Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

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swuzzlebubble

swuzzlebubble

Nov 2, 2009
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He should be able to contest the next three intermediate sprints and maybe at least get into the green.

Keeping it in Paris will be hard. He might be reliant on the Gorilla taking the last stage.
 
Jspear

Jspear

Feb 23, 2014
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Re:

Red Rick said:
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.
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This exactly.

This being the case, the green jersey is a little harder for him to target than it is for Sagan. I want to see him take it this year, but it'll be hard....maybe he can win stage 19.
 
B

Bicycle tramp

Jun 12, 2012
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Certainly possible for Mathews.

If MM takes all the IS points on the next two stages, and MK gets zero, then it's MM=384 vs MK 373.

Friday: MM will probably get more points than MK, or at least not lose too many.

ITT: Either/both could pick up a few points. Lots of riders will be exhausted & not particularly motivated.

So MM will probably have a slight advantage going into Paris. MK will probably win, but MM could be close enough to take green.

A suspenseful sideshow!
 
SKSemtex

SKSemtex

Mar 24, 2013
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Re:

Red Rick said:
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.
Click to expand...

Is it? I would not be so sure having this T-A stage 3 in mind. We were robbed this year of seeing Sagan going "all in" to secure his 6th GJ against 6 stage win Kittel. :mad:

But we were also robbed of seeing their mutual competition that could be great with the form MM has this year.

I wish MM get his GJ. He deserves it. The only problem is that he somehow proves Prudhomme strategy and we can next year another Kittelfriendly route. I hope I am mistaken here.
 
B

Bushman

Jun 3, 2012
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Re:

Red Rick said:
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.
Click to expand...

https://youtu.be/-3i3mOADq2c

Matthews might be the better climber right now but I have den several climbing performances from Sagan that surpasses anything Matthews has ever done
 
PremierAndrew

PremierAndrew

May 9, 2014
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Re:

jsem94 said:
I'd much rather see Matthews win the jersey than Kittel now. Kittel is a monster but I love the Matthews type of rider much more. He has been outstanding this Tour so far.
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I admire his fighting spirit, but I just think it wouldnt make sense for Kittel to win 5-7 stages and still miss out on green, like 09 Cav
 
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trucido

Mar 15, 2016
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He has an inferiority complex regarding Sagan, but who can blame him when you are constantly compared due to your similarities.
 
Cookster15

Cookster15

Moderator
May 14, 2011
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Good to see Matthews getting the thumbs up from the non Aussies. Kittel looks like he's running on empty, it is certainly possible for Matthews to take Green by Paris which would be a great reward and recognition for his and Sunwebs efforts. Was fantastic to see the team pulling hard to distance Kittel and put Matthews in the box seat for contesting the win. The Green jersey is all about the most consistent rider not the fastest.

Sunweb getting awesome value for money in the Giro and now the Tour. Hopefully it doesn't come down to Paris as that tips things back in favour of the big German. But if Kittel's empty after the Alpes you never know.
 
E

Eagle

Mar 13, 2015
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Re:

trucido said:
He has an inferiority complex regarding Sagan, but who can blame him when you are constantly compared due to your similarities.
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Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy
 
Jspear

Jspear

Feb 23, 2014
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Akuryo said:
He'll win it, but without Sagan, Kittel, Cavendish, ... it's not like he has lots of competition left. Sure, finishing the race is part of getting the prize but still.
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Sagan for sure would have crushed it this year.

Matthews was giving Kittel a proper challenge, so this isn't the best way to take it, but he can be assured that he was closing in regardless.
 
J

jmdirt

Dec 6, 2013
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Re: Re:

Eagle said:
trucido said:
He has an inferiority complex regarding Sagan, but who can blame him when you are constantly compared due to your similarities.
Click to expand...
Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy
Click to expand...
That is why I was lukewarm about him for a while, he seemed too big for his britches. He has matured and is riding well IMO.
 
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trucido

Mar 15, 2016
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trucido

Mar 15, 2016
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Re: Re:

movingtarget said:
Eagle said:
trucido said:
He has an inferiority complex regarding Sagan, but who can blame him when you are constantly compared due to your similarities.
Click to expand...
Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy
Click to expand...

Some Sagan fans have some sort of complex maybe a persecution complex !
Click to expand...

Oh look a strawman response, how predictable.
 
I

ihosama

Aug 13, 2016
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Re: Re:

trucido said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/matthews-if-you-can-figure-out-how-to-beat-sagan-please-tell-me/
...
Click to expand...
I think you are seeing in that interview what is not there. They are both friends in private. That comment seemed more out of respect than anything.

Simplifying, Matthews is a sprinter who can climb, but he is no Sagan. He is Matthews. So for him to try taking Sags head-on seems only a recipe for disappointment. To win with Sagan in the race, he needs to play it differently. And he knows that.
That is why I said his star is outshined by Sagan somehow undeservedly when they compete in the same race. Mere Sagan presence prevents MM to go for the more aggressive tactics like we get to see and like in this Tour. A warrior who earns his victories.
 
T

trucido

Mar 15, 2016
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Re: Re:

ihosama said:
trucido said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/matthews-if-you-can-figure-out-how-to-beat-sagan-please-tell-me/
...
Click to expand...
I think you are seeing in that interview what is not there. They are both friends in private. That comment seemed more out of respect than anything.

Simplifying, Matthews is a sprinter who can climb, but he is no Sagan. He is Matthews. So for him to try taking Sags head-on seems only a recipe for disappointment. To win with Sagan in the race, he needs to play it differently. And he knows that.
That is why I said his star is outshined by Sagan somehow undeservedly when they compete in the same race. Mere Sagan presence prevents MM to go for the more aggressive tactics like we get to see and like in this Tour. A warrior who earns his victories.
Click to expand...

Being friends and having a complex are not mutually exclusive. In any case it's your interpretation vs mine so we can agree to disagree there.

In terms of the bolded part, the same can be said for many a "lesser" rider when the main cast is MIA/off-form and they get their chance to shine.
 
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