Believe. Michael Matthews believes in it, he is convinced that he can still leave an important mark on the road with his pedal strokes and he got it tattooed on his neck to remember it every time you look in the mirror.
He believes with all his heart that he can bring home a Monument, like the Milan-Sanremo which in the summer of 2020 saw him finish in third place, climbing on the podium with his right hand still bleeding. In 2022 that will still be the goal, in addition to the suggestion of the World Cup at home in Wollongong, still all to be discovered. We met the thirty-one-year-old from Canberra in Rivoli, shortly after he had completed the standard medical examinations at the Rehabilitation Institute of the Group CIDIMU of Turin, official clinic of the Team Bike Exchange.
Michael, what do you think of the season that just ended?
I'd say I have a mix of feelings. I think the team was great, but something didn't work.We've restructured it now, new riders and new staff members have arrived. This is what happened, and what we've learned from this year will be applied to next year, when we aim to be back at the front.
You're a very generous rider, perhaps even a little too much in the first few kilometers, and then you lack energy for the final stages of the race. What will you change for next year, and have you already set goals for next season?
My personal goals don't change that much. This year has been perhaps a little more stressful for our entire team., perhaps because we didn't reach the goals we had set ourselves. Things continued to go wrong, and we were unable to break that vicious cycle, unfortunately. During the break at the end of this season and in the first months of preparation for the next one, everything seems promisingA couple of new sponsors have arrived, which can really help. And I can't wait for the new season to begin.
At Sanremo, Matthews third and bloodied after the Poggio crash The photo of his bloody shoes went around the world
At Sanremo, Matthews third and bloodied after the Poggio crash The photo of his bloody shoes went around the world
The dream remains Sanremo: do you think the decision will be made on Poggio in 2022 too?
The Poggio is truly becoming the key point of the race, to launch the decisive attack. The way of racing the Sanremo in a group is changing and so are the riders who show up at the start: there are no longer just sprinters trying to take the race to a sprint. I think I need to change too and adapt to this current style of running, which is much more attacking. I'll focus on this during the off-season.
You mentioned cycling's changing nature. What do you think of this new generation pushing forward: Pogacar, Evenepoel, Van der Poel? Is anything changing in the peloton?
Yes, I think the group is definitely changing. The names you mentioned are really young guys, who they are carrying among the professionals the way of running of under 23s or even under 19s in certain special cases. I think it's great, over the years I've adapted to waiting for the whole race and then going full throttle: I had to do it because that was the style. Now we're getting back to the style I loveI just have to get used to running like that again, but I think it will be something easy for me because I love running like this. Unfortunately, it's taking me a little longer, but I hope to get back to that level of attack next year. Then I can have fun and compete with these guys.
Matthews was one of the favorites at the last World Championships, but finished 25th, 6'27" behind Alaphilippe. With third place at Amilly, Matthews is the leader for one day at this year's Paris-Nice. Vuelta 2021: Matthews finishes top five four times, but victory slips away
Matthews was one of the favorites at the last World Championships, but finished 25th, 6'27" behind Alaphilippe. With third place at Amilly, Matthews is the leader for one day at this year's Paris-Nice. Vuelta 2021: Matthews finishes top five four times, but victory slips away
The World Cup at home next year is a great idea: what do you think?
We haven't seen the route yet. If it's going to be flat, we have Caleb (Ewan, ed.) who is very fast at the moment, but I think the track in Wollongong will be quite undulating, so we will have more options And that's great for the team. We have a lot of riders who can hold their own on a winding and challenging course: I think it will be a race like that. The last time I did the World Cup in Australia I did well. (in 2010 in Geelong he became U23 world champion, ed.) so it would really be a fairy tale.
At 20 years old he won the U23 World Championship in Geelong, his native Australia. In 2010, he was the most talented Australian. After the rainbow jersey, he moved to Rabobank.
At 20 years old he won the U23 World Championship in Geelong, his native Australia. In 2010, he was the most talented Australian. After the rainbow jersey, he moved to Rabobank.
Michael, we saw you have a new tattoo. It says "Believe," right? Believing in winning a Monument or a World Championship?
Since my early professional years, I've gotten a lot of tattoos. They're a bit hidden, but they all mean a lot to me. In these last seasons, sometimes I've missed "believing" a little.. I think that now, every time I look in the mirror, I can continue to believe in my passion, my results and my life to achieve what is possibleYou go through tougher times and better times throughout your life, but in the end, you have to keep believing to ensure you achieve the things you desire with all your heart. I've dedicated a large part of my life to cycling, and in return, I want to continue taking everything I can for myself.
