Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

[Mayomaniac]

in b4 Kelderman is leader for Paris Roubaix

Wilco is their secret weapon to get rid of all the mountain trains.
Sunweb really went off the rails, now they mainly sign neopros because almost no established guys are willing to put up with their approach.

 

[Red Rick]

Wilco is their secret weapon to get rid of all the mountain trains.
Sunweb really went off the rails, now they mainly sign neopros because almost no established guys are willing to put up with their approach.

The things I would do to be a fly on the wall in that team lol

 

[42x16ss]

The things I would do to be a fly on the wall in that team lol

It's insane. I think Spekenbrink is trying to systemically annoy every rider he has who is capable of winning at WT level - Kittel, Degenkolb, Barguil, Dumoulin, Theuns, Oomen, Kelderman and now Matthews.

Next will be guys like Hirschi, Andersen and Hindley at the rate he's going - he's already booted Storer from camp for going to the corner shop ffs.

 

[Blanco]

And there he goes...

 

[42x16ss]

So, who will be next? Bardet? Hirschi? Benoot?

 

[IndianCyclist]

history repeats

 

[HelloDolly]

So Mitchleson Scott have just announced Bling is on his way back to them

 

[Jspear]

Seriously does the team have a mission statement?

 

[Scarponi]

Team is going from almost pulling off the Giro-Tour double to a team of what?

 

[roundabout]

It's a difficult period for the travel industry. I am somewhat surprised that they have not pulled out CCC/McLaren style

 

[yaco]

Mitchelton Scott were very confident about getting Matthews back in 2022 but Sunweb's ineptitude brought the decision forward. It helps that Gerry Ryan funded Matthews in the juniors and the under 23's.

 

[BlueRoads]

Maybe they found Matthews' wages too high for them and pushed him towards leaving by taking all his main goals from him...

 

[yaco]

Maybe they found Matthews' wages too high for them and pushed him towards leaving by taking all his main goals from him...

Matthews is on a good wage at Sunweb, though he will get similar at Mitchelton Scott - Classics ( except for Ardennes ) is a disaster area for MS which Matthews will strengthen.

 

[jmdirt]

Thinking about strategy here: why would Bling finish five minutes in front of Cav today? No need to talk about Bling being better in the hills than Cav because we know that already, but why not save a few watts today and ride with Cav?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Thinking back, Ewan crashing might have affected Matthews the most in the quest for the green jersey as he isn’t here to split stages from Cavendish. Matthews would at this point be leading the classification with a little lead most likely.

 

[tobydawq]

Thinking back, Ewan crashing might have affected Matthews the most in the quest for the green jersey as he isn’t here to split stages from Cavendish. Matthews would at this point be leading the classification with a little lead most likely.

Definitely.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Thinking back, Ewan crashing might have affected Matthews the most in the quest for the green jersey as he isn’t here to split stages from Cavendish. Matthews would at this point be leading the classification with a little lead most likely.

Ewan would probably be leading.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The crash also took out Sagan which probably helped Matthews.

 

[movingtarget]

Matthews problem is he can't stop Cavendish winning stages. intermediate points helps but without a stage win or two, its difficult to win the Green jersey.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Matthews problem is he can't stop Cavendish winning stages. intermediate points helps but without a stage win or two, its difficult to win the Green jersey.

At this point he has gotten more points from intermediate then he has from stage finishes. If he was finishing like Sagan would 2-5 he’d be good.

 

[42x16ss]

The crash also took out Sagan which probably helped Matthews.

I'd say it balances out with Sagan taking points off Matthews and Ewan taking from Cav. In the bigger scheme I think Ewan is the one most likely to have won.

I can't wait for Wout to get unleashed on the points classification with no other responsibilities, it would be a sight to behold.

 

[yaco]

Matthews has ridden consistently all year BUT has always been a touch off his best form - It's been a disappointing return to Bike Exchange, though the team has been crap all year - Bike Exchange needs to reconsider their goals because they have sacrificed their sprint/classics for GC, when in effect they don't have a big enough budget to be a GC team.

 

[tobydawq]

I'd say it balances out with Sagan taking points off Matthews and Ewan taking from Cav. In the bigger scheme I think Ewan is the one most likely to have won.

I can't wait for Wout to get unleashed on the points classification with no other responsibilities, it would be a sight to behold.

That does not make sense. In a finish, you can take 20 points from another rider if you beat him into second. In an intermediate sprint, you can take a maximum of three points from another rider by being one place better.

 

[42x16ss]

That does not make sense. In a finish, you can take 20 points from another rider if you beat him into second. In an intermediate sprint, you can take a maximum of three points from another rider by being one place better.

Yeah, but if you look at the types of riders they are, Ewan and Cavendish get most of their points in big bunch sprints while Sagan and Matthews get them from finishes and intermediate sprints those two can't contend.

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah, but if you look at the types of riders they are, Ewan and Cavendish get most of their points in big bunch sprints while Sagan and Matthews get them from finishes and intermediate sprints those two can't contend.

Exactly. Which is why it doesn't balance out that Sagan is also out of the race. Ewan being out gives Cavendish a huge amount of extra points whereas Sagan could not have taken that much from Matthews.