Piccoli Signs with Israel Cycling Academy

Canada's James Piccoli will be the first new rider signed to Israel Cycling Academy since the team announced it plans to take over the Katusha WorldTour licence for next year [see Israel Cycling Academy to Join WorldTour]. In a Facebook posting, ICA said:

Israel Cycling Academy is delighted to announce that Canadian Climber James Piccoli will join the team next season.

Piccoli, who currently race for Team Elevate - KHS Pro Cycling - is coming from a breakthrough year that he calls "my dream season".

The Canadian finished second overall in the Tour Of Utah - beaten only by ICA's Ben Hermans who won the tour. [Note: he was also second at Tour de Beauce and won the Mont Megantic stage, as well as 22nd at the Quebec WorldTour race]

Solo break, 2019 Road Nationals

Winning Stage 2, 2019 Tour de Beauce

Celebrating with Team Canada after overall victory of 2018 Tour de Beauce

"I had a lot of teams interested in signing me" , revealed Piccoli, "but I chose ICA because of their belief in me and the amazing staff that they have. They really believe that I can be a great rider one day, and offered me an environment where I can adjust to European racing while helping the team out as best I can."

ICA's Pro Manager Kjell Carlstrom expressed his confidence that Piccoli can adjust quickly to European racing after spending most of his career in the North America racing scene: "After Piccoli's great season we are sure he can still progress and be a very valuable team member for ICA's first year in the WT. James has some great climbing legs, but his qualities goes beyond that and can prove to be a versatile rider."

Piccoli sees his role as assisting ICA's Prime GC contenders Dan Martin and Ben Hermans: "I'm a climber/GC rider so I will probably be the last guy to help Dan and Ben in the hard races, and I'll also look to take my shot at the win in target races when I can."

Piccoli is a late bloomer, "I started cycling for fun with my dad when I was young, just riding around town and to coffee shops" he recalls. "I started racing in my early 20s, while I was in university studying mechanical engineering. After a bumpy couple of years I finally found a good home at Elevate/KHS Pro Cycling, and that's when I really started to learn my craft and improve."