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 stuffed with 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 group management will be good for him and his teammates.
“In the long run, for our group, we simply want wins. And I believe wins carry extra wins. If we’re successful in a number of completely different areas that’s solely a bonus for the group,” Matthews informed Cyclingnews with a easy however logical philosophy.
“I believe having a number of leaders is the important thing to having a profitable group. It is the way in which biking goes as of late – the racing is so open and a number of various things can occur in your race, and I believe having completely different choices is certainly the important thing to success.
“So the arrival of the brand new guys does not do something to me personally. I believe it solely brings our group as much as one other degree. If we now have a sooner man than me in our group, 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 have 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 complete offseason has been a lot nicer to organize 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 form of break up the coaching camp just a little bit and to have successful out and see how the low season has gone. It appears to have gone rather 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 have fun massive victories but in addition suffers in defeat, his feelings usually 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 reside 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 quit every thing you will have in Australia to be right here in Europe to try to obtain your goals within the sport that you just 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 received the under-23 world title in Australia in 2010.
His palmarès contains 4 levels on the Tour de France and the inexperienced factors jersey in 2017. He has received a number of WorldTour Classics and has come shut in a variety of Monuments, just for crashes, moments of misfortune, twists of destiny or just stronger rivals to beat him. But he retains combating again.
“Sadly, it appears to be the story of my profession. I’ve quite a lot 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.
“Should you take a look at my outcomes, this from final yr, it appears like considered one of my worst seasons however if you happen to contemplate all of the stuff that occurred alongside the way in which, 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 certain I will get my likelihood in a giant Traditional ultimately’
Matthews will once more goal the spring Classics after which deal with the Paris Olympic Video games, with a choice on using the Giro d’Italia or Tour de France depending on the 2 and on Jayco-AlUla’s different ambitions.
“The Olympics are positively a giant purpose. Firstly, to make the group after which secondly, to do a prime outcome,” he mentioned. “I’ve by no means executed the Olympics in order that can be one thing particular. It appears the course actually fits me effectively, in order that’ll positively be a large purpose.
“I believe the Paris course fits my fashion of using, that aggressive fashion. With simply 90 or so riders and small groups, it’ll be just a little bit much less predictable, which I actually preferred.”
After all, chronologically the Classics come first. Matthews’ vary of capability 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 received COVID-19 at Pais-Good and crashed out on the Tour of Flanders, wrecking the remainder of my spring,” Matthews recollects, hoping for a flip in his fortunes and the performances of his shut pal, Monaco neighbour, and frequent coaching accomplice Tadej Pogačar.
“Tadej and the brand new technology 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 just a little 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 method, attacking with 100km to go, as a result of that is what fits them. if you happen to allow them to journey their race, then you definitely’re most likely going to lose so it’s essential go otherwise,” 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 certain I will get my likelihood in a giant Traditional ultimately.”
