Michael Matthews Appreciation Thread

[SHAD0W93]

Get out of this thread with your slanderous..uummm...truths.
Similar to Sagan he picked up a lot of points on mountain stages and has always been better on uphill sprints than than pure sprints

Yes but Sagan would have gotten more flat points. They’d have had a close battle.

 

[tobydawq]

Yes but Sagan would have gotten more flat points. They’d have had a close battle.

I don't think anybody believes Sagan wouldn't have won without his DSQ.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I don't think anybody believes Sagan wouldn't have won without his DSQ.

He was the heavy favorite but you never know. Matthews did win 2 stages though Sagan has won green without winning a stage twice.

 

[tobydawq]

He was the heavy favorite but you never know. Matthews did win 2 stages though Sagan has won green without winning a stage twice.

With Sagan in those years and the points competition, yes, you knew.

But Matthews had a great Tour, however, he also depended on a DNF from Kittel who was wearing green after taking five stage wins.

 

[Volderke]

I honestly feel sad for Matthews: he got his second podium in a monument this year, and during the race I was thinking loudly "Matthews still in the mix = a good chance for a podium". And then... the commissaires decided he went for a walk with his adversaries a bit too much... Imho, he first went to Bettiol / Teuns (nothing wrong with that), passed them on his right (nothing wrong) and kept going until he was almost at the barrier.
It all seems a bit too much, because Politt clearly wasn't coming over him.

 

[yaco]

I honestly feel sad for Matthews: he got his second podium in a monument this year, and during the race I was thinking loudly "Matthews still in the mix = a good chance for a podium". And then... the commissaires decided he went for a walk with his adversaries a bit too much... Imho, he first went to Bettiol / Teuns (nothing wrong with that), passed them on his right (nothing wrong) and kept going until he was almost at the barrier.
It all seems a bit too much, because Politt clearly wasn't coming over him.

Bling did well to make the final after missing nearly every split in the last 100kms. He also struggled in the lead up races and yet like MSR he got it right on the day. His major target is the Olympics. He should be supported by Groves and Plapp in this race. It's a matter of how he gets to the race.

Finally his relegation was a rubbish decision. Even more when Mezgec gets on twitter to criticise the decision.

 

[Lequack]

Bumping this thread for celebration of King of Quebec

 

[scribers]

✨bling

 

[Tim Cahill]

 

[Ilmaestro99]

He never was the most exciting racer, and sometimes he didn't seem particularly bright, but I always thought bling was someone who seemed genuinely a good guy

 

[wirral]

Another victory for Matthews of the bunch sprint following the leading group in a classic.

Is there any other rider who specialises in this niche category?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Another victory for Matthews of the bunch sprint following the leading group in a classic.

Is there any other rider who specialises in this niche category?

Kristoff has done it a few times as well, but is of coure unlikely to add to his record at this point.

 

[yaco]

Another victory for Matthews of the bunch sprint following the leading group in a classic.

Is there any other rider who specialises in this niche category?

He was in the leading group last year in MSR! He's not good enough to follow Pogacar on the climbs. I'll also add that Jayco's cobbled classic team has stunk for six years, so there is limited support. Reckon Bas Tietema has a better cobbled classic squad.

 

[Breh]

Matthews sidelined indefinitely.
He appears to have a problem with his lung and they deem it unsafe for him to race untill they know more about his condition

He's unlike the most riders I like but for some reason I have a soft spot for him, I hope this is not the end of his carreer.

 

[yaco]

Matthews sidelined indefinitely.
He appears to have a problem with his lung and they deem it unsafe for him to race untill they know more about his condition

He's unlike the most riders I like but for some reason I have a soft spot for him, I hope this is not the end of his carreer.

Sports people usually can get back from blood clots, although he may be on medication for the rest of his life.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Michael Matthews ruled out of Tour de France and sidelined as team discover 'signs of a pulmonary embolism' at altitude camp

Australian rider pauses all physical activity as health precaution, while team investigate 'the extent of the issue and cause'

www.cyclingnews.com

Not something I would expect from a cyclist.

Sports people usually can get back from blood clots, although he may be on medication for the rest of his life.

At least apixaban and depending on the size they could remove it. That’s crazy he got one with how active he is. It could be he got a thrombus due to a broken bone that turned it a PE, or with the physical exertion and dehydration his heart went into atrial fibrillation and that increases the risk of blood clots.

 

[Netserk]

He's unlike the most riders I like but for some reason I have a soft spot for him, I hope this is not the end of his carreer.

Same sentiment here, but I fear it is.