He is still a chance if he can do better in the bunch sprints because he can pick up points in hillier terrain like Sagan.
An interesting article on velonews
https://www.velonews.com/2019/07/commentary/commentary-an-emotional-setback-for-michael-matthews-in-colmar_496678
https://www.velonews.com/2019/07/commentary/commentary-an-emotional-setback-for-michael-matthews-in-colmar_496678
- May 23, 2009
- 10,256
- 1,455
- 25,680
A good result to get 3rd in MSR, his first race back from lockdown. Then check out how he had to do it! :
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDo3dwoBHVg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDo3dwoBHVg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,686
- 27,791
- 28,180
It's insane what they did to him. Absolutely insane. They didn't deserve to have him win a monument for them.
Would love to see him win a monument. I thought he might have won one by now. Still racking up the podiums. If Gerrans can win one, Matthews should be able to do the same.
- Mar 19, 2009
- 9,892
- 1,790
- 20,680
He definitely could but might need to go to another team to get more opportunities. He obviously wanted and expected to do the Tour + classics this year instead of the Giro. 6th in his first RVV, you'd think they'd let him go back.
I'd have much rather seen him do Liége, Brabantse Pijl, Amstel and Flanders. Who knows, maybe he'd have finally given Roubaix a go as well?
- May 23, 2009
- 10,256
- 1,455
- 25,680
And to hear of it by press conference was just another blow. I strongly doubt that he's going to renew.
- May 23, 2009
- 10,256
- 1,455
- 25,680
If Gerrans can somehow get 2, Matthews should certainly get at least one.
- Aug 6, 2010
- 6,884
- 6,216
- 23,180
I am surprised that an old Bling thread has so few posts.
Come on! Us Aussies aren't all as unlikeable as Gerrans!
Come on! Us Aussies aren't all as unlikeable as Gerrans!
Matthews could have stayed at Mitchelton where he was well supported tem,albeit the team developed a stronger GC focus BUT he got an exceptional offer from Sunweb - Anyway he's contracted for 2021.
Pretty sure it was primarily the switch to GC focus. Gerrans is 10 years older than Bling and left for BMC a year after Matthews moved to Sunweb.
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,686
- 27,791
- 28,180
I think it had to do with Gerrans. It was quite a shitshow the way they rode Amstel in Matthews' final year, and I think that was what prompted him to go elsewhere.
- May 9, 2010
- 11,070
- 2,540
- 28,180
He's riding Tirreno and Giro and some smaller races, so no Tour, no Classics,... Pretty disgraceful program that Sunweb gave him.
His next race is Lombardia, I believe.
It seems more and more likely that there won't be a WC this year so that could spare him a disappointment.
- May 9, 2010
- 11,070
- 2,540
- 28,180
No classics, huh? Well, that's disappointing. I've always thought that Flanders should suit him well, and then of course the Ardennes should certainly be on his calender.
It had nothing to do with Gerrans - Why do people perpetuate foundless rumours - My previous post gave the reasons.
Porte's not good enough to ride the world's, though Brad McGee doesn't have much idea - McGee is the same guy who at the world's in 2015 or 2016 had four riders to support Gerrans and three riders support Matthews - For this world's you make Haig the leader who could get a top 10 on this course - Finally, I doubt Matthews will get a gig in the World's in 2020.
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,686
- 27,791
- 28,180
Good that you know what goes on inside Matthews' head... Of course it had to do with Gerrans, Matthews must have been sick of not getting opportunities (in all the races he would want) because the team was fond of their long-time star, even if he was beginning to decline.
- Nov 16, 2013
- 26,686
- 27,791
- 28,180
Of course Porte is not good enough, he wasn't in 2018 either. It was shocking that he was left out. The guy who had been top four in the previous three editions.
It's not exactly as if I would put Matthews at the top of the list of favourites for the Worlds but he certainly should be given a spot if he wishes to have one.
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