Michael Matthews (cyclist)

File:185045 ND7 1325 Bling.jpg race in 2008]]

He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder,[http://www.ausport.gov.au/information/finding_sport_information/topic/commonwealth_games/commonwealth_games_2010/australian_team AIS Athletes at 2010 Commonwealth Games] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328021514/http://www.ausport.gov.au/information/finding_sport_information/topic/commonwealth_games/commonwealth_games_2010/australian_team |date=28 March 2012 }} and in 2010 he became the Under 23 Road Race World Champion.[http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-road-world-championships-cm/under-23-men-road-race/results Australia's Matthews grabs home turf title]

Matthews left {{UCI team code|RAB|2012|nolink=yes}} at the end of the 2012 season, and joined {{UCI team code|OBE|2013}} on an initial two-year contract from the 2013 season.

File:Michael Matthews - Giro d'Italia 2014 - Stage 8 (Foligno – Montecopiolo).jpg]]

Matthews was selected to ride the 2014 Giro d'Italia. His {{UCI team code|MTS men|2014}} team won the opening team time trial in Belfast. On Stage 2, Matthews finished eighth behind Marcel Kittel in a sprint finish, also in Belfast, to take the pink jersey for the leader of the general classification from teammate Svein Tuft. Matthews won Stage 6, a hill top finish at Monte Cassino. Matthews withdrew from the Giro after Stage 10 after suffering a crash on Stage 9.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/matthews-withdraws-from-the-giro-ditalia/|title=Matthews withdraws from the Giro d'Italia|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=20 May 2014|access-date=14 December 2021}}

In 2015, Matthews won the points classification jersey of Paris–Nice as well as a stage. He finished in third place in Milan–San Remo.{{cite news |url= http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/results-2015-milano-sanremo_364169 |title= Results: 2015 Milano-Sanremo|work=VeloNews |publisher= Competitor Group, Inc. |date= 22 March 2015 |access-date=19 April 2015}} He also met success at the opening stage of the Tour of the Basque Country by outsprinting a group of about fifty riders after a hilly day.{{cite news |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-ciclista-al-pais-vasco-2015/stage-1/results |title= Matthews wins Pais Vasco opener |work= Cyclingnews.com |publisher=Future plc |date= 6 April 2015 |access-date= 6 April 2015}} He then went on to a second place in the Brabantse Pijl, winning the sprint of the group after nearly getting to lone escapee Ben Hermans.{{cite news |url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/de-brabantse-pijl-la-fleche-brabanconne-2015/results |title= Hermans holds off pack for Brabantse Pijl win |work=Cyclingnews.com |publisher= Future plc |date=15 April 2015 |access-date= 15 April 2015}} At the Amstel Gold Race, Matthews grabbed another notable result, when he came in third of the final dash for the line while being part of a small leading group.{{cite news |url= http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/road/kwiatkowski-sprints-to-first-victory-in-rainbow-jersey-in-amstel-gold-race_367157 |title= Kwiatkowski sprints to first victory in rainbow jersey in Amstel Gold Race|work=VeloNews |publisher= Competitor Group, Inc. |date=19 April 2015 |access-date= 19 April 2015}} At the Tour de Suisse, Matthews won stage 4 after following Peter Sagan's wheel in the sprint and passing him in the final metres.{{cite news |url= http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/michael-matthews-wins-stage-four-of-the-tour-de-suisse-as-crash-delays-thomas-177197 |title= Michael Matthews wins stage four of the Tour de Suisse as crash delays Thomas |work= Cycling Weekly |publisher=IPC Media Sports & Leisure network |date=16 June 2015 |access-date= 16 June 2015 |author= Stuart Clarke}} He was named in the start list for the Tour de France.{{cite web |url= http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/preliminary-start-list-2015-tour-de-france_375043 |title= 2015 Tour de France start list |access-date=2 July 2015 |work= Velo News}}

In the 2016 Tour de France, Matthews out-sprinted a breakaway group of 7 riders to win stage 10, his first stage win in the Tour de France, completing a set of Grand Tour stage victories.{{cite news|url=https://talksport.com/sport/cycling/101042/tour-de-france-2016-michael-matthews-pips-peter-sagan-clinch-dream-stage-win-160712202806/|title=Tour de France 2016: Michael Matthews pips Peter Sagan to clinch 'dream' stage win|work=Talksport|publisher=Wireless Group|date=12 July 2016|access-date=14 December 2021|quote=Matthews has now won stages in all three Grand Tours.}}

In August 2016, it was confirmed that Matthews would join {{UCI team code|TGA|2017}} for the 2017 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/article/2016/08/05/michael-matthews-move-giant-alpecin-confirmed|title=Michael Matthews move to Giant-Alpecin confirmed|work=Cycling Central|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=5 August 2016|access-date=14 December 2021}}

File:Tour de France 2017, matthews (35326161604).jpg]]

Matthews was expected to contend for the points classification at the 2017 Tour de France, and his chances were boosted on Stage 4 after an incident during the final sprint which saw Mark Cavendish forced out of the race through injury and Peter Sagan, winner of the classification in the previous 5 Tours, disqualified.{{cite news| first= William| last =Fotheringham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/04/mark-cavendish-crash-tour-de-france-stage-four | title=Mark Cavendish out of Tour and Peter Sagan disqualified after horror crash| work=The Guardian|date=4 July 2017|access-date=4 July 2017}}{{cite news|last=Robertshaw|first=Henry|title=Peter Sagan disqualified from Tour de France|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/peter-sagan-disqualified-tour-de-france-339582|access-date=6 July 2017|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=Time Inc. UK|date=4 July 2017}} Matthews won Stage 14, a reduced peloton uphill sprint finish at Rodez.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2017/stage-14/results/|title=Tour de France: Matthews wins in Rodez as Froome moves into yellow|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=15 July 2017|access-date=15 July 2017|first=Susan|last=Westemeyer}} On Stage 16, the high pace set by Matthews's {{UCI team code|SUN|2017|nolink=yes}} dropped the green jersey wearer Kittel; Matthews, who was second to Kittel in points classification, won the stage.{{cite news|title=Tour de France 2017: Chris Froome retains lead as Michael Matthews takes second win|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/40647398|access-date=21 July 2017|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=19 July 2017}} On Stage 17, Kittel crashed and withdrew from the Tour, putting Matthews in the green jersey.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2017/stage-16/results/|title=Tour de France: Matthews wins stage 16|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=18 July 2017|access-date=18 July 2017|first=Daniel|last=Benson}} Matthews retained the jersey to Paris.

In 2018 he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec ahead of Greg Van Avermaet and Jasper Stuyven,{{cite news|first=Kirsten|last=Frattini|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-2018/results/|title=Matthews wins GP de Québec|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=7 September 2018|access-date=14 December 2021}} before adding the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal two days later, which he won ahead of Sonny Colbrelli and Van Avermaet.{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Benson|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-2018/results/|title=Matthews wins Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=9 September 2018|access-date=14 December 2021}} As a result, he became the second rider to win both Laurentian classic races in the same year, after compatriot Simon Gerrans in 2014.{{cite news|first=Aaron S.|last=Lee|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/article/2018/09/10/matthews-back-his-best-after-winning-worldtour-weekend|title=Matthews back to his best after winning WorldTour weekend|work=Cycling Central|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=10 September 2018|access-date=14 December 2021}} In 2019, he won two stages at the Volta a Catalunya,{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Ballinger|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/michael-matthews-sails-sprint-victory-stage-two-volta-catalunya-2019-411728|title=Michael Matthews sails to victory on stage two of Volta a Catalunya 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=TI Media|date=26 March 2019|access-date=14 December 2021}}{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Puddicombe|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/michael-matthews-edges-phil-bauhaus-win-stage-six-volta-catalunya-2019-412279|title=Michael Matthews edges out Phil Bauhaus to win stage six of Volta a Catalunya 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=TI Media|date=30 March 2019|access-date=14 December 2021}} before repeating his victory in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.{{cite news|first=Jonny|last=Long|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/michael-matthews-beats-peter-sagan-claim-gp-de-quebec-2019-437633|title=Michael Matthews beats Peter Sagan to claim GP de Québec 2019|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=TI Media|date=14 September 2019|access-date=14 December 2021}}

He finished 3rd in the 2020 Milan-San Remo and late in the year he took a top 10 in the UCI World Championships road race. A month earlier he won the 2020 Bretagne Classic Ouest–France, which was one of the few races that was run at its normal time during the COVID pandemic.

File:MichaelMatthewsWollongong2022.jpg

In August 2020, Matthews signed a two-year contract with {{UCI team code|GEC men|2020}}, later renamed as {{UCI team code|MTS men|2021|nolink=yes}}, from the 2021 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mitchelton-scott-announce-michael-matthews-return/|title=Mitchelton-Scott announce Michael Matthews' return|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=30 August 2020|access-date=31 August 2020}}

In 2021 he had some strong results but no major wins, including 4th at the Amstel Gold Race,

5th in Gent–Wevelgem and 6th in Milan–San Remo. He rode Le Tour, but did not win any stages. He finished 2nd in the points classification, the second highest finish of his career, losing to Mark Cavendish 337–291.

In 2022 he had top 10 finishes in Brabantse Pijl, the Amstel Gold Race and 2022 Milan-San Remo. He won the first stage at the Volta a Catalunya, his first victory with Team BikeExchange.{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-2022/stage-1/results/

|title=Volta a Catalunya: Michael Matthews secures first win for BikeExchange on stage 1

|first=Patrick

|last=Fletcher

|publisher=Cycling News

|date=21 March 2022

|access-date=16 July 2022}} This victory was overshadowed as it was the stage where one of his primary rivals, Sonny Colbrelli, had a near fatal heart attack after crossing the finish line.{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/colbrelli-cleared-to-get-back-on-bike-as-condition-improves/

|title=Colbrelli cleared to get back on bike as heart condition improves:Italian will resume leisure rides, says Bahrain Victorious

|first=Alisdair

|last=Fotheringham

|publisher=Cycling News

|date=27 April 2022

|access-date=16 July 2022}} In June he won the black jersey during the COVID marred 2022 Tour de Suisse. During the 2022 Tour de France he suffered two defeats in back to back stages; finishing 2nd to his friend Tadej Pogačar, and then the next day to rival Wout Van Aert. On stage 14 he got involved in a breakaway and survived to the final climb outlasting all of the breakaway riders except Alberto Bettiol. It looked as though he was about to be defeated again, when he appeared to suffer from cramps and Bettiol rode away from him on the final climb. Matthews was able to recover, catch and drop Bettiol, and solo to the line for his first Tour win this decade.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/34252937/michael-matthews-wins-stage-14-tour-de-france-jonas-vingegaard-remains-overall-leader

|title=michael-matthews-wins-stage-14-tour-de-france-jonas-vingegaard-remains-overall-leader

|agency=Associated Press

|publisher=ESPN

|date=16 July 2022

|access-date=16 July 2022}}

In the 2023 Giro d'Italia Matthews won Stage 3 ahead of Mads Pederson in a bunch sprint.{{cite web |last1=Ostanek |first1=Daniel |title=Giro d'Italia: Michael Matthews claims stage 3 in uphill sprint |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-d-italia-2023/stage-3/results/ |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=9 May 2023 |language=en |date=8 May 2023}} It was his first stage win at the Giro since 2015.

In August 2015, he married his Slovak girlfriend Katarína Hajzer.{{cite news|first=Sophie|last=Smith|author-link=Sophie Smith (journalist)|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/bling-hopes-for-sweet-virginia/psxyfr9g0|title=Bling hopes for Sweet Virginia|work=SBS Sport|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=8 August 2015|access-date=25 June 2022}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

;2008

: 1st John Woodman Memorial

: Internazionale Bresciana

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Prologue & Stage 3b (ITT)

: 1st Stage 7 Tour of the Murray River

: 2nd Overall GP Général Patton

::1st Stage 2

: 8th Road race, UCI Junior World Championships

;2009

: Oceania Road Championships (November)

::1st {{cjersey|oceania champion}} Road race

::1st {{cjersey|oceania champion}} Under-23 road race

::1st {{cjersey|oceania champion}} Under-23 time trial

: 2nd 15px Time trial, Oceania Under-23 Road Championships (February)

: National Under-23 Road Championships

::2nd Road race

::3rd Time trial

: 2nd Gran Premio della Liberazione

: 9th Overall Tour of Japan

;2010 (2 pro wins)

: 1st {{cjersey|rainbow}} Road race, UCI Road World Under-23 Championships

: Tour de Langkawi

::1st Stages 1 & 3

: 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Thüringen Rundfahrt der U23

: 2nd Trofeo Banca Popolare di Vicenza

: 2nd Ronde van Vlaanderen Beloften

: 2nd Gran Premio della Liberazione

: National Under-23 Road Championships

::3rd Road race

::3rd Time trial

: 4th Overall Tour of Japan

::1st Stage 1 (ITT)

: 5th Overall Tour of Wellington

::1st Stage 4

: 7th Overall Ringerike GP

::1st Stages 2 & 3

: 8th Overall Tour de l'Avenir

;2011 (3)

: 1st Rund um Köln

: 1st Stage 2 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic

: 1st Stage 1 Vuelta a Murcia

: 3rd Time trial, National Road Championships

: 3rd Eschborn–Frankfurt City Loop

: 4th Overall Tour Down Under

::1st Stage 3

: 5th Overall Delta Tour Zeeland

: 6th Grote Prijs Jef Scherens

;2012 (2)

: 1st Clásica de Almería

: Tour of Utah

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Sprints classification

::1st Stage 3

: 9th Overall Tour Down Under

: 10th Brabantse Pijl

;2013 (4)

: Vuelta a España

::1st Stages 5 & 21

::Held {{cjersey|green}} after Stages 6 & 7

: Tour of Utah

::1st {{cjersey|purple}} Sprints classification

::1st Stages 2 & 4

: National Road Championships

::2nd Road race

::3rd Time trial

: 2nd Vuelta a La Rioja

;2014 (5)

: 1st Vuelta a La Rioja

: Giro d'Italia

::1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 6

::Held {{cjersey|pink}} after Stages 2–7

::Held {{cjersey|white}} after Stages 2–7

::Held {{cjersey|azul}} after Stages 6 & 7

: Vuelta a España

::1st Stage 3

::Held {{cjersey|red}} after Stages 3–5

::Held {{cjersey|green}} after Stage 4

: Tour of Slovenia

::1st {{cjersey|red}} Points classification

::1st Stage 1 (ITT)

: 1st Stage 3 Tour of the Basque Country

: 2nd Brabantse Pijl

: 6th Trofeo Ses Salines

: 7th Trofeo Palma

;2015 (5)

: Giro d'Italia

::1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 3

::Held {{cjersey|pink}} after Stages 2–3

::Held {{cjersey|white}} after Stages 1–3

: Paris–Nice

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Stage 3

: Tour of Alberta

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Stage 2

: 1st Stage 1 Tour of the Basque Country

: 1st Stage 4 Tour de Suisse

: 2nd 15px Road race, UCI Road World Championships

: 2nd Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: 2nd Brabantse Pijl

: 3rd Milan–San Remo

: 3rd Amstel Gold Race

: {{cjersey|red number}} Combativity award Stage 5 Tour de France

;2016 (4)

: 1st Vuelta a La Rioja

: 1st Stage 10 Tour de France

: Paris–Nice

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Prologue & Stage 2

: UCI Road World Championships

::3rd 15px Team time trial

::4th Road race

: 3rd London–Surrey Classic

: 4th Bretagne Classic

: 4th Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

: 5th Brabantse Pijl

: 5th Amstel Gold Race

: 5th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

;2017 (4)

: UCI Road World Championships

::1st 15px Team time trial

::3rd 15px Road race

: Tour de France

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Stages 14 & 16

: 1st Stage 1 Tour of the Basque Country

: 1st Stage 3 Tour de Suisse

: 3rd Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: 3rd London–Surrey Classic

: 4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

: 5th Bretagne Classic

: 8th Gent–Wevelgem

: 8th Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

: 9th UCI World Tour

: 10th Amstel Gold Race

;2018 (4)

: 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

: 1st Prologue Tour de Romandie

: 2nd 15px Team time trial, UCI Road World Championships

: 2nd Overall BinckBank Tour

::1st Stage 7

: 2nd Eschborn–Frankfurt

: 4th Bretagne Classic

: 5th La Flèche Wallonne

: 7th UCI World Tour

: 7th Milan–San Remo

;2019 (3)

: 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: Volta a Catalunya

::1st {{cjersey|Volta a Catalunya Points}} Points classification

::1st Stages 2 & 6

: 4th Brabantse Pijl

: 6th Tour of Flanders

: 8th La Flèche Wallonne

;2020 (1)

: 1st Bretagne Classic

: 3rd Milan–San Remo

: 7th Road race, UCI Road World Championships

;2021

: 4th Amstel Gold Race

: 5th Gent–Wevelgem

: 6th Milan–San Remo

: 6th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton

: 9th Eschborn–Frankfurt

;2022 (2)

: Tour de France

::1st Stage 14

::{{cjersey|red number}} Combativity award Stage 14

: 1st Stage 1 Volta a Catalunya

: 1st {{cjersey|black}} Points classification, Tour de Suisse

: 2nd Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: UCI Road World Championships

::3rd 15px Road race

::3rd 15px Team relay

: 4th Milan–San Remo

: 4th Trofeo Pollença–Port d'Andratx

: 6th Trofeo Alcúdia–Port d'Alcúdia

: 6th Trofeo Playa de Palma

: 7th Amstel Gold Race

: 7th Brabantse Pijl

;2023 (1)

: 1st Stage 3 Giro d'Italia

: 1st {{cjersey|blue}} Sprints classification, Tour Down Under

: 3rd Road race, National Road Championships

: 3rd Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: 4th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

: 4th Trofeo Matteotti

;2024 (2)

: 1st {{cjersey|rainbow}} Team relay, UCI Road World Championships

: 1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec

: 1st Gran Premio Castellón

: 2nd Milan–San Remo

: 7th Bretagne Classic

: 8th Brabantse Pijl

: 10th Amstel Gold Race

;2025

: 4th Milan–San Remo

: 5th Amstel Gold Race

{{div col end}}

{{grandtourlegend}}

• 2017 – Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy (Australian Cyclist of the Year), Men's Elite Road Cyclist of the Year and the People's Choice Award.{{cite news|last1=Polkinghorne|first1=David|title=Tour de France star Michael Matthews wins triple crown at Cycling Australia awards|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-star-michael-matthews-wins-triple-crown-at-cycling-australia-awards-20171117-gzndic.html|access-date=17 November 2017|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 November 2017}}
• 2017 – ACT Sport Male Athlete of the Year.{{cite news|last1=Dutton|first1=Chris|title=Caroline Buchanan, Michael Matthews, Schoolboy rugby big winners at ACT sport awards|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/act-sport/caroline-buchanan-michael-matthews-schoolboy-rugby-big-winners-at-act-sport-awards-20171130-gzwhj7.html|access-date=1 December 2017|work=Canberra Times|date=1 December 2017}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Michael}}

Category:1990 births

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Category:Australian male cyclists

Category:Australian Institute of Sport cyclists

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