Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

[jsem94]

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.

 

[The Hegelian]

Yep, I'm jumping on board too. Alongside Barguil and D.Martin, Matthews has really set the race alight. All three have been brilliant.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

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]

Re:

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.

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.

 

[movingtarget]

Great Tour so far for Matthews, Barguil and Sunweb. I think he has a chance at the Green jersey now as Kittel looks very tired. A few days ago I thought it was all over. Sunweb's team performance yesterday was excellent.

 

[Bicycle tramp]

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]

Re:

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.

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.

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.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He's a great rider. He's often been accused of riding like Gerrans, but hopefully this Tour will show him what he can achieve be riding more aggressively.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

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.

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

 

[portugal11]

I'm starting to like matthews, he is no more gerrans 2

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

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.

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

 

[trucido]

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

 

[Cookster15]

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.

 

[Eagle]

Re:

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

Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

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

Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy

Some Sagan fans have some sort of complex maybe a persecution complex !

 

[Jspear]

Well. He's in green. Not the best way to take it I guess, but he was closing in even without this.....

 

[Akuryo]

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.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

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.

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.

 

[jmdirt]

Re: Re:

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

Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy

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.

 

[TMP402]

Not a bad trade for Sunweb: Matthews in for Degenkolb. Two stages and the green jersey (probably) whereas Degenkolb has only won a stage of the Dubai Tour this year.

 

[sienna]

Re:

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.

Heard of Steven Bradbury?

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

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

Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/matthews-if-you-can-figure-out-how-to-beat-sagan-please-tell-me/

He did manage to do one over Sagan in the TdS though, whatever you think of the TdS.

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

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

Why do you think he has an inferiority complex? He seems like very confident guy

Some Sagan fans have some sort of complex maybe a persecution complex !

Oh look a strawman response, how predictable.

 

[ihosama]

Re: Re:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/matthews-if-you-can-figure-out-how-to-beat-sagan-please-tell-me/
...

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.

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/matthews-if-you-can-figure-out-how-to-beat-sagan-please-tell-me/
...

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.

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.