Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

[42x16ss]

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.

Yep, no Porte. Take a nucleus of Haig, Hamilton, Schulz, Power/O'Connor, Clarke, a rouleur (Dennis/Sutherland/Hansen) and Matthews in case it's raced negatively.

 

[yaco]

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.

The irony - Two or three people in this thread have given the reasons why Matthews joined Sunweb - The fact is when Matthews left Mitchelton, Gerrans had two years of riding left which were one at Mitchelton and BMC - And in both those years, Gerrans was a domestic. The only battle the two had was over leadership at the World's which has nothing to do with Mitchelton

 

[yaco]

Yep, no Porte. Take a nucleus of Haig, Hamilton, Schulz, Power/O'Connor, Clarke, a rouleur (Dennis/Sutherland/Hansen) and Matthews in case it's raced negatively.

That is a well chosen squad.

 

[tobydawq]

The irony - Two or three people in this thread have given the reasons why Matthews joined Sunweb - The fact is when Matthews left Mitchelton, Gerrans had two years of riding left which were one at Mitchelton and BMC - And in both those years, Gerrans was a domestic. The only battle the two had was over leadership at the World's which has nothing to do with Mitchelton

How could Matthews have known that when he had been screwed the past season?

 

[42x16ss]

That is a well chosen squad.

Actually, replace Schultz with Hindley and McCarthy should be in there too

 

[jaylew]

The irony - Two or three people in this thread have given the reasons why Matthews joined Sunweb - The fact is when Matthews left Mitchelton, Gerrans had two years of riding left which were one at Mitchelton and BMC - And in both those years, Gerrans was a domestic. The only battle the two had was over leadership at the World's which has nothing to do with Mitchelton

But it does. Teammates in national events and MS races with similar, though not identical, skillsets and some similar targets. Amstel 2016 was also a mess. Both finished in the group 4" behind Gasparotto, doing their own race rather than one helping to bring Gaspa and Valgren back for the other when they were two of the fastest guys left.

Anyway, I'm sure there were multiple reasons why he left.

 

[Bonimenier]

Ulissi almost caught him in the end.

Bennett
Ulissi
Van der Poel

Wrong thread, mate

 

[tobydawq]

He really seems to be in killer shape. If I were Sagan I would be very afraid of this guy in the battle for green. Oh, wait...

Instead, I will be looking forward to Red Rick's reaction when he beats Nibali in the Tirreno GC.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He really seems to be in killer shape. If I were Sagan I would be very afraid of this guy in the battle for green. Oh, wait...

Instead, I will be looking forward to Red Rick's reaction when he beats Nibali in the Tirreno GC.

just insanity that he’s not in the Tour squad. I could understand it if they were all in on a GC effort or on a big bunch sprinter, but they aren’t.

 

[tobydawq]

It's the most inexcplicable non-selection I have ever witnessed.

 

[42x16ss]

just insanity that he’s not in the Tour squad. I could understand it if they were all in on a GC effort or on a big bunch sprinter, but they aren’t.

I'm hoping that we finally get the showdown with Sagan that has been looming for years at the Giro, but chances are Sagan will be flat from the TDF.

 

[Red Rick]

He really seems to be in killer shape. If I were Sagan I would be very afraid of this guy in the battle for green. Oh, wait...

Instead, I will be looking forward to Red Rick's reaction when he beats Nibali in the Tirreno GC.

Maybe we can finally eclipse the legendary Tour de Suisse 2011 thread.

 

[Jspear]

Who the heck is Sunweb even riding for in the Tour? I’ve known that Matthew’s isn’t riding but didn’t even look at their Tour line up till now. It’s crap!

 

[tobydawq]

Who the heck is Sunweb even riding for in the Tour? I’ve known that Matthew’s isn’t riding but didn’t even look at their Tour line up till now. It’s crap!

That's the thing that doesn't make sense. Plus, making Matthews do the Giro makes it impossible for him to ride the classics where he would be their best option.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Not the latter two as he will for some reason ride the Giro instead.

Who did he piss off at Sunweb? They are shooting themself in the leg. They can't bank on Benoot suddenly becoming a gc contender(he has shown more than Dumoulin before his sudden Vuelta transformation, I'll give him that).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Who the heck is Sunweb even riding for in the Tour? I’ve known that Matthew’s isn’t riding but didn’t even look at their Tour line up till now. It’s crap!

Cees Bol apparently (in the sprints). Who they let prepare for the Tour by letting him ride 1 race day.

Sunweb logic has lost it completely

 

[SKSemtex]

Who did he piss off at Sunweb? They are shooting themself in the leg. They can't bank on Benoot suddenly becoming a gc contender(he has shown more than Dumoulin before his sudden Vuelta transformation, I'll give him that).

Sunwebe team is joke and pissing somebody high is the only explanation for me. He is probably their best or second best card to play with in TDF. The guy is screwed.

 

[Red Rick]

I sincerely hope Matthews is end of contract?

Seriously I wonder how long this Sunweb breakdown has been waiting to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if Dumoulin already wasn't happy about doing Giro/Tour last year.

 

[SafeBet]

I sincerely hope Matthews is end of contract?

Nope, under contract next year.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I sincerely hope Matthews is end of contract?

Seriously I wonder how long this Sunweb breakdown has been waiting to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if Dumoulin already wasn't happy about doing Giro/Tour last year.

No, he still has a year left on his contract, that's the absurd thing. He's not in the doghouse because he's not resigning.

 

[Red Rick]

No, he still has a year left on his contract, that's the absurd thing. He's not in the doghouse because he's not resigning.

I mean I think he shoudl be resigning

 

[tobydawq]

Hmm, maybe this is all a ploy to gain Matthews a bit more popularity in the fan milieu. Us feeling sorry for him might make us warm to him which hasn't really happened that much (just five pages for such a big star tells it all).

 

[Bardamu]

Cees Bol apparently (in the sprints). Who they let prepare for the Tour by letting him ride 1 race day.

Sunweb logic has lost it completely

Spekenbrink has been cuckoo all these years.

 

[Red Rick]

Spekenbrink has been cuckoo all these years.

A little bit yeah, but this is just complete and utter insanity

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

in b4 Kelderman is leader for Paris Roubaix