After the second stage of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, Italy’s rising star Andrea Piccolo wore the coveted red leader’s jersey.
Less than a year later, he finds himself without a team after his contract is terminated by the American cycling team EF Education-EasyPost. It is quite a fall from grace.
On June 21, 2024, Piccolo, 23, was detained by Italian authorities at Milan airport upon returning to the country “on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone (HGH).”
EF founder and CEO Jonathan Vaughters was quick to respond to the scandal. Within hours, Piccolo’s contract was terminated, just over a week before this year’s Tour de France was set to kick off.
It was hardly a surprising call from the American, who has been a proponent of clean sport after serving on Lance Armstrong’s US Postal Service team in the late 1990s and later admitted to doping himself. Piccolo apologized to Vaughters after he was detained, claiming he had not tested positive for any banned substances, but it was not enough to keep his job.
Andrea Piccolo (pictured) had his contract terminated by EF Education-EasyPost after being arrested by Italian authorities ‘on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone’
EF Education-Easy-Post Founder and CEO Jonathan Vaughters (right) made the decision to terminate Piccolo’s contract after news of the scandal broke
Concerns about Piccolo’s behavior arose after he met his influencer girlfriend Valentina Gomez (right) earlier this year
What may come as a surprise is that Vaughters chose to take a chance on Piccolo at all.
After riding for four different teams in two years, EF showed interest in Piccolo in 2022 after he finished fourth in a race at the Italian Championships.
Vaughters asked around for a general opinion on Piccolo before pursuing his interest further and was warned that the young Italian was “a bit of a party animal, but a good lad,” as quoted by The times.
This initial assessment of Piccolo’s character might have raised doubts in the minds of some, but Vaughters decided to take a chance on the promising rider and signed him to a contract.
Vaughters said in an interview with The Times that he was happy with his decision. He said Piccolo was “one of our best riders” when he signed up. There was a feeling that the then 21-year-old would only get better.
In 2023 he had some more highlights, such as when he briefly led the Vuelta a Espana. But his promises evaporated like snow in the sun, and it all started when he took part in the Tour of Colombia in February 2024.
During her stay in South America, Piccolo began dating Colombian influencer Valentina Gomez, a celebrity in her home country with more than three million followers on Instagram.
Those around Piccolo soon became concerned about the influence Gomez had on him.
Piccolo (right) and Gomez (left) have been almost inseparable since they met during his participation in the Tour of Colombia in February
But her influence has been questioned after she held a midnight fireworks show for him during the Giro d’Italia
Just days after Vaughters returned from Colombia to compete in a race in Spain, he was informed by a local shopkeeper that a member of his team had taken toothpaste and sunscreen from his store without paying.
The EF cyclist in question was Piccolo, but he maintained that it had been a careless mistake on his part and told Vaughters that he would go back to the store to pay for the items.
Vaughters gave him the benefit of the doubt, but another incident the following month raised further concerns.
One of Piccolo’s teammates found the sleeping pill clonazepam, which can be used to treat anxiety, in his room.
The drug had not been approved by a team doctor and even though it was a legal substance, Vaughters was furious.
Piccolo was reported to the International Cycling Union (UCI) by his own team, but the union could not intervene because clonazepam is not on the banned list.
Ultimately, Piccolo was given a two-month internal suspension by EF, during which time he was informed that he would not be paid.
He accepted the suspension and apologized, after which he decided to continue racing his home race, the Giro d’Italia.
Vaughters (pictured in 2013) handed Piccolo a two-month suspension after he took medication without the team doctor’s approval earlier this year
After the controversy surrounding him earlier this year, you might have expected Piccolo to keep a low profile. That didn’t happen.
However, during the Giro d’Italia, Gomez was there and it didn’t take long before she made her appearance.
At midnight, the day before the scheduled rest day, Gomez set off a fireworks show for Piccolo, waking up the riders he was sharing a hotel with.
Needless to say, Gomez’s idea didn’t go down well with the other hotel guests. Piccolo didn’t finish the Giro d’Italia after a heavy crash in stage 19, after which he rode back to Colombia with Gomez.
After spending some more time with Gomez, he returned to Italy, but was caught by authorities with HGH.
After Piccolo’s contract was terminated, EF promised to “cooperate fully with any investigation into the matter, and we encourage Andrea to be open and honest with the anti-doping authorities.”
Vaughters reiterated this message to The Times, while revealing text messages he exchanged with Piccolo in light of the scandal.
“They tested me and nothing came up, but it turns out they found a drug that shouldn’t be taken. I apologize for that. Forgive me,” Piccolo told Vaughters.
Vaughters responded, “I’m very sad, anyway. You have the talent, you didn’t have to do this. I urge you to tell the truth. Everything. It’s the only action you can take to help the situation. It will help you. And the team.”
If Vaughters had used the tone of “I’m not angry, just disappointed,” his teammates would have been less diplomatic.
Veteran rider Alberto Bettiol said in a team meeting before the Tour de France: ‘When Piccolo joined the team I became friends with him because he was Italian like me and I tried to help him. Now I see him as an ad***head’.
Piccolo’s former teammate Alberto Bettiol (pictured) called his Italian compatriot an ‘idiot’ for his behaviour
Team manager Charly Wegelius (pictured) was also furious, admitting that Piccolo’s involvement in a doping scandal ‘damages’ the team
Mark Cavendish made history on Wednesday by taking his 35th stage win at the Tour de France, while Piccolo can only watch from the sidelines without a team
Sporting director Charly Wegelius added: “What makes me angry is that he could do this. I’m away from my family 150 days a year and I work with you guys because you do things the right way. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t be here.
“And what really irritates me is that people are seeing what Piccolo has done and making accusations against Jonathan. I know what Jonathan and this team stand for, and that’s why this hurts.”
The Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and delivers historic moments every year.
On Wednesday it was Mark Cavendish’s turn to write his name into the history books once again. He took his 35th stage win, one point ahead of the iconic Eddy Merckx.
But for now, Piccolo can only watch from the sidelines as he awaits sanctions from the authorities.
Cycling has a long, dark history when it comes to doping and now Piccolo is involved in the sport’s latest scandal.
It is not yet clear when he will return to cycling, but it is unlikely that he will be welcomed with open arms any time soon.