Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

[42x16ss]

What a week!

After a relatively disappointing 2012 and first half of 2013 Bling got things back on track with two solid stage wins at the 2013 Vuelta. Now he's started this season with a real bang with stage wins at Pais Vasco and now the Giro.

Started to get noticed in 2010 with an incredible U23 season with a U23 WC win, stages at Langkawi (2), Wellington, Ringerike GP (2), Tour of Japan, 2nd at U23 Flanders and GP della Liberazione.

Then there was 8th at L'Avenir - when he only started riding for GC after his team leader abandoned after 2 stages.

Is he finally cashing in on his obvious talent?

 

[Marcus135]

I gotta get amongst this thread! Definitely cashing in on obvious talent, i have spoken to many people who rode with him/saw him develop in Camberra 5ish years ago, all said he has always been something special. Big future for him if he keeps working properly for it.

 

[Jspear]

What do you all think he'll develop into? He has shown that he is fast, but he has also shown he can climb (to a certain degree.) I personally would like to see him become a top puncheur - target those hard man stages and races....a glorified Sagan. I'd like to see him do well in the Ardennes as well. He showed a little bit of potential there this year.

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

I thought "appreciation" threads were banned and only "discussion" threads allowed?

But yes, he is having a good giro and hopefully it can propel his development forward.

 

[Butterhead]

Well, I was sure the distance would soften him up before today´s climb but he proved me wrong, and kept his jersey, Cadeau.
The young man seems to have bigger xxxxx than I expected already.

Interesting guy, will follow him closely from now on. Anybody know how long he signed with Orica for?

 

[42x16ss]

I gotta get amongst this thread! Definitely cashing in on obvious talent, i have spoken to many people who rode with him/saw him develop in Camberra 5ish years ago, all said he has always been something special. Big future for him if he keeps working properly for it.

I mentioned him in another thread about when he rode the Tour of Bright back in '08, as a 16 yo B Grader passing us A graders on Mt Hotham!

Apparently he had been riding less than a year and hadn't ridden a climb longer than 5-6 kms before...

 

[42x16ss]

What do you all think he'll develop into? He has shown that he is fast, but he has also shown he can climb (to a certain degree.) I personally would like to see him become a top puncheur - target those hard man stages and races....a glorified Sagan. I'd like to see him do well in the Ardennes as well. He showed a little bit of potential there this year.

Gerrans with a bigger sprint? Or maybe the rider we all thought EBH would be 3 years ago.

Well, I was sure the distance would soften him up before today´s climb but he proved me wrong, and kept his jersey, Cadeau.
The young man seems to have bigger xxxxx than I expected already.

Interesting guy, will follow him closely from now on. Anybody know how long he signed with Orica for?

He signed on a 2 year contract, so free at the end of the year. I'd imagine OGE will be looking to lock him, Hepburn and Durbridge in long term though.

 

[greenedge]

I doubt Matthews has what we thought EBH had climbing wise, though his ride in this first week is almost like Hushovd in 2011.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

What a week!
Is he finally cashing in on his obvious talent?

I guess he has decided what kind of races he want's to bee. Maby he dis so couple of years ago and the transition took a while. Focusing on hills and not very hard climbs it the best way he can go. He doesn't match the absolute Top speed, and to be a speacialist for hard bunch sprints isn't half as good as a Classics, Hillsprinter type for racer if you can achieve that.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gerrans with a bigger sprint? Or maybe the rider we all thought EBH would be 3 years ago.

snipped..

More of a Gerrans type fore me, perhaps even a better version if possible.
EBH is a pretty accomplished TT'er. Haven't seen that skill in Matthews yet.

But of course Matthews can still develop. Exciting rider and interesting character in the sport.

 

[42x16ss]

More of a Gerrans type fore me, perhaps even a better version if possible.
EBH is a pretty accomplished TT'er. Haven't seen that skill in Matthews yet.

But of course Matthews can still develop. Exciting rider and interesting character in the sport.

Matthews is a solid TT'er, has a couple of senior podiums at Nats and won a few at U23 level. EBH is better at longer TT's though.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Matthews is a solid TT'er, has a couple of senior podiums at Nats and won a few at U23 level. EBH is better at longer TT's though.

ok, fair enough. Perhaps he rarely focus on the discipline.

 

[Butterhead]

I think it´s a bit to early to put him in any category as a rider right now, remember he´s in the middle of an adventure of his life right now, and pink gives you wings.

Let´s wait and see until Monday how well he survives the weekend, that should be a good indicator.

 

[Butterhead]

Gerrans with a bigger sprint? Or maybe the rider we all thought EBH would be 3 years ago.



He signed on a 2 year contract, so free at the end of the year. I'd imagine OGE will be looking to lock him, Hepburn and Durbridge in long term though.

Thanks. Well, we will see, after this displaying I´m sure there are plenty of offers, unless of course he already have signed a new contract before the Giro which wouldn´t be unlikely.

 

[jens_attacks]

the new laurent jalabert!

 

[Marcus135]

I mentioned him in another thread about when he rode the Tour of Bright back in '08, as a 16 yo B Grader passing us A graders on Mt Hotham!

Apparently he had been riding less than a year and hadn't ridden a climb longer than 5-6 kms before...

I've ridden tour of Bright last few years, tough race and have heard about that yeah. He won the junior national championships 6 months after taking up cycling. Short climbs before that figure to as 5-6k is about the longest ones in close proximity to Camberra.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Always liked Matthews, but never brought what I thought he could. Now he is doing what I thought he could. He climbs well enough to be the best surviving fast guy in many situations. I think he can climb longer climbs better than Gerrans for instance... Just a few years ago, in his last year as u23, he beat Kelderman in the tour l'avenir MTT...

 

[jens_attacks]

i've seen grupetto riders winning tour de frances. matthews has talent and good climbing imo, i think with the right suitcase of courage, he can stay in contention for overall on saturday and definitely the big favourite for sestola mtf on sunday.

 

[jmdirt]

MM is having a great TdF! Two stage wins so far, maybe more to come, maybe a green jersey, working hard for his team...

I used to be pretty neutral about him, but I'm starting to like him.

 

[Red Rick]

I've never been much anti Matthews really, but what he's doing now is just great. One of the riders of the Tour for me.

 

[Netserk]

He's lovely. When he's not racing one-day races.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

He's lovely. When he's not racing one-day races.

Yes, but it looks like he has finally been able to free himself from the Orica/Matt White wheelsucking idoctrination.
He's riding a great Tour and he already was a huge talent in the U23 ranks and he's also a really good TT rider.
I've never been a huge fan, but you can't deny the fact that he has a ton of talent and Sunweb seem to be a great team for him.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Indeed, he has been incredible this Tour. Never a big fan either. I really hope he wins the green jersey now!

 

[ihosama]

He seems to have only one problem. Sagan.
Physiologically, they seem quite similar and Matthews star would shine more were it not for the Sagan supernova nearby.
IMO, within reason, he should target races where Sagan will not enter. He got a "deserved lucky" this year, but may not be so lucky the next one. For sure I would love to see Matthews get Green "the Sagan way", making Prudhomme puke in the process.
:twisted:
Anyway, remember hearing they get along well. Would be nice to see both in one team. Supporting each other on big events, amplifying their strengths. Spliting leader role on the minor ones.

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's pretty obvious that Mattews is a better climber and TT'er than Sagan. Sagan seems to be faster and more explosive though. Overall, I'd say Matthews has a smaller niche where he could be truly the best in the world.