Bretagne Classic + GP de Plouay

[Mayomaniac]

Good result for Fedeli, he has been really solid since the races have started again.

 

[Red Rick]

Matthews not going to the Tour is utter insanity

 

[jaylew]

Matthews not going to the Tour is utter insanity

Especially because it means he misses the classics as well. Mind boggling decision.

 

[Faserr]

That decision is really crazy. Sunweb made also some strange decisions in the last years.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It’s a completely inexplicable decision. They are sending a bunch sprinter and some lead outs, but there aren’t many big sprint stages and they are very much outsiders to actually win one - Bol has beaten big guns, but not often. Other than that they are stage hunting. No matter what way I look at it, I can’t see how bringing Matthews makes it less likely that they get a stage.

 

[The Hegelian]

Is it because he decided not to contest the bunch sprints/give up on the green jersey last year? Maybe there were discussions had then and there which are fruiting now...

Not saying I agree. It is pretty crazy, especially given what he did a few years ago.

 

[BlueRoads]

I would think there is not much of a sporting reason. Matthews might have said something / acted in a way they did not like / so that they assume he thinks he's bigger than "the team"/them and they don't like that.

 

[tobydawq]

I would think there is not much of a sporting reason. Matthews might have said something / acted in a way they did not like / so that they assume he thinks he's bigger than "the team"/them and they don't like that.

Maybe he rode 4 hours and 57 minutes once he was supposed to be on a 5 hour training ride.

 

[BlueRoads]

Maybe he rode 4 hours and 57 minutes once he was supposed to be on a 5 hour training ride.

Or, worse, 5 hours 4 minutes.

 

[tobydawq]

Or, worse, 5 hours 4 minutes.

Then he would probably have to pay them for unnecessary tear on the bike.

 

[boneshaker]

Is it because he decided not to contest the bunch sprints/give up on the green jersey last year? Maybe there were discussions had then and there which are fruiting now...

Not saying I agree. It is pretty crazy, especially given what he did a few years ago.

My understanding was that it was the team initiave. Do you know some source stating that this was the Bling's decision?

 

[CTQ]

"It was the team's idea on the rest day - they came up with the idea, and it makes sense," Matthews explained in Toulouse after the stage. "It was just a little bit to switch off, try something diff, help the team, get rid of some green jersey points, so I can go in some breakaways.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/matthews-gives-up-on-tour-de-france-green-jersey/