Michael Matthews began 2024 with a win at Ruta de la Cerámica-Gran Premio Castellón on Sunday, indicating he has reset and rebuilt after a rollercoaster 2023 season full of sickness, crashes and private disappointment.
The 33-year-old Australian will share management at Jayco-AlUla in 2024 with Simon Yates, Dylan Groenwegen and new signings Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp, and he is satisfied that spreading the load or crew management may be good for him and his teammates.
“Ultimately, for our crew, we simply want wins. And I believe wins deliver extra wins. If we’re profitable in a number of completely different areas that’s solely a bonus for the crew,” Matthews advised Cyclingnews with a easy however logical philosophy.
“I believe having a number of leaders is the important thing to having a profitable crew. It is the best way biking goes lately – the racing is so open and a number of various things can occur in your race, and I believe having completely different choices is unquestionably the important thing to success.
“So the arrival of the brand new guys would not do something to me personally. I believe it solely brings our crew as much as one other degree. If we now have a quicker man than me in our crew, I can do an superior lead out for them and we are able to race collectively and provides us completely different strategic choices.”
Matthews focused the Tour Down Underneath in 2023 however a visit dwelling to Australia began a collection of misfortune, crashes and issues that had been exacerbated by two bouts of COVID-19.
This yr he opted to spend his winter in Europe.
“This has been a a lot smoother begin to the yr, with out the identical issues. My entire offseason has been a lot nicer to arrange for the season,” he defined from Jayco-AlUla’s coaching camp in Spain.
The camp follows a weekend of success that noticed Dylan Groenwegen additionally win the opening Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 race. The solar is out in Spain and Matthews was upbeat.
“We threw these races in simply to type of break up the coaching camp a bit bit and to have a success out and see how the low season has gone. It appears to have gone very well…” he mentioned.
Matthews is nicknamed Bling for his success, his showmanship and his love for jewelry and quick automobiles. But he’s additionally an introspective and delicate soul, who dedicates his life to racing. He can rejoice massive victories but in addition suffers in defeat, his feelings typically pouring out.
“Anybody that’s near me is aware of how a lot I put into the game. Biking is my world,” Matthews confided to Cyclingnews. “I stay right here in Europe, with my household, away from my shut household, who’re all in Australia, mates, every thing.
“It’s a must to hand over every thing you will have in Australia to be right here in Europe to try to obtain your desires within the sport that you simply love. That is not simple.
“So after I do get a win, it is further particular as a result of I understand how a lot I’ve put into it. That is why I let my feelings out whether or not I win or lose. It is due to how a lot of my life that I put into the game.”
Matthew’s dedication has helped him overcome disappointment and savour success yr after yr since he gained the under-23 world title in Australia in 2010.
His palmarès consists of 4 levels on the Tour de France and the inexperienced factors jersey in 2017. He has gained a number of WorldTour Classics and has come shut in quite a lot of Monuments, just for crashes, moments of misfortune, twists of destiny or just stronger rivals to beat him. But he retains preventing again.
“Sadly, it appears to be the story of my profession. I’ve plenty of setbacks after which I bounce again in a very great way, which is sweet. Nevertheless it’d be good to not have so many setbacks,” Matthews mentioned, nonetheless in a position to see his glass half full.
“For those who have a look at my outcomes, this from final yr, it appears to be like like one in every of my worst seasons however in case you contemplate all of the stuff that occurred alongside the best way, I continued bouncing again to a very excessive degree, which reveals how a lot effort and time I put into the game.
“By the top of the season, I used to be mentally and bodily darkish and I could not I could not do extra. So I actually stepped away from my bike and simply loved resting. It means I’ve began this season far more motivated and mentally and bodily contemporary. I got here again on the bike smiling and having fun with myself. Now I am simply specializing in this yr.”
‘I am positive I am going to get my probability in an enormous Basic eventually’
Matthews will once more goal the spring Classics after which deal with the Paris Olympic Video games, with a choice on driving the Giro d’Italia or Tour de France depending on the 2 and on Jayco-AlUla’s different ambitions.
“The Olympics are undoubtedly an enormous purpose. Firstly, to make the crew after which secondly, to do a prime consequence,” he mentioned. “I’ve by no means performed the Olympics in order that shall be one thing particular. It appears the course actually fits me effectively, in order that’ll undoubtedly be a large purpose.
“I believe the Paris course fits my model of driving, that aggressive model. With simply 90 or so riders and small groups, it is going to be a bit bit much less predictable, which I actually appreciated.”
After all, chronologically the Classics come first. Matthews’ vary of potential means he’s suited to lots of them, from Milan-San Remo to La Flèche Wallonne. He has prime podiums on the latter to his identify, plus a fourth and sixth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Flanders and a wealth of prime 10s within the Ardennes.
“It would be good to try to do my factor this yr within the Classics. Final yr I bought COVID-19 at Pais-Good and crashed out on the Tour of Flanders, wrecking the remainder of my spring,” Matthews remembers, hoping for a flip in his fortunes and the performances of his shut pal, Monaco neighbour, and frequent coaching companion Tadej Pogačar.
“Tadej and the brand new era of riders have modified the racing since I began as an expert, all of the racing has modified,” Matthews added in admiration.
Because of his quick end, Matthews can race a bit extra defensively and look ahead to the dash however is aware of he has to adapt to the present development of aggressive racing.
“They race that means, attacking with 100km to go, as a result of that is what fits them. in case you allow them to trip their race, then you definately’re in all probability going to lose so that you must go another way,” he identified.
“I simply have to deal with my race and ensure I am, I am racing my race to not racing their race. They’ve began the races earlier and earlier now to attempt to make riders like me do further work. However I am coaching for that, too. So hopefully, it really works out. I am positive I am going to get my probability in an enormous Basic eventually.”
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