Matthews talks about winning despite Pogacar and Van der Poel, team again criticizes Tour of Flanders organization
Cycling
He was bothered by it for months, he admitted last December. But Michael Matthews has to face his great trauma on Sunday. The Australian thought he would finish third last year but was relegated to 11th place. Can the Jayco-AlUla leader aim for the podium again on Sunday? In a press release, he hopes so.
Matthews claims he deviated from his line in a sprint for second place in the Tour of Flanders a year ago. Mathieu van der Poel had already soloed in at that point, Luca Mozzato came in second, and Nils Politt was eventually awarded third place on behalf of UAE. The Jayco-AlUla press release also mentions a 'bitter taste' after 2024.' The Tour of Flanders is a race that I love and would love to win one day. And I believe I can win it.'
"2024 was a hard pill to swallow with what happened in the final sprint, however I am back and in great shape once again and want to be there in the final once again, battling it out for victory. It is of course like all races now, going to be tough, but I have confidence, a strong team and I just hope everything goes smoothly on the day." On Sunday, Matthews will be joined by Robert Donaldson, Kelland O'Brien, Elmar Reinders, Jelte Krijnsen, Jasha Sütterlin and Max Walscheid.
Read more below the video
Jayco-AlUla also reflects on the decision regarding Matthews
Mat Hayman is the team's sports director on Sunday and he too has ambitious words. "Michael will be our leader. It's a race that left him bitterly disappointed last year with what we think was a harsh decision, so he'll be back to try and emulate his performance from 2024. Unlike last year's conditions, it is looking like it's going to be nice weather in Belgium, and so, like always, we are expecting a very hard race."
Selection Team Jayco-AlUla - Tour of Flanders 2025
Michael Matthews
Robert Donaldson
Kelland O'Brien
Elmar Reinders
Jelte Krijnsen
Jasha Sutterlin
Max Walscheid
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Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025