"Anyone that is close to me knows how much I put into the sport. Cycling is my world" - Michael Matthews remains hungry for success

Whenever Michael Matthews eventually decides to hang up his cycling shoes, he will be able to look back on a glistening career. Now aged 33 however, the Australian is still just as hungry for success as ever.

"Anyone that is close to me knows how much I put into the sport. Cycling is my world," the Team Jayco AlUla star, who already has his first win on the board for 2024 (at Gran Premio Castellón ed.), says in conversation with Cycling News. "I live here in Europe, with my family, away from my close family, who are all in Australia, friends, everything. You have to give up everything you have in Australia to be here in Europe to try and achieve your dreams in the sport that you love. That's not easy."

Given the sacrifices he's made though, every little success tastes even sweeter for Matthews. "When I do get a win, it's extra special because I know how much I've put into it," he explains. "That's why I let my emotions out whether I win or lose. It's because of how much of my life that I put into the sport."

So what of 2024? Where can we expect to see Matthews at the fore? "The Olympics are definitely a big goal. Firstly, to make the team and then secondly, to do a top result," he says. "I've never done the Olympics so that will be something special. It seems the course really suits me well, so that'll definitely be a massive goal. I think the Paris course suits my style of riding, that aggressive style. With just 90 or so riders and small teams, it's going to be a little bit less predictable, which I really liked."

"It'd be good to try and do my thing this year in the Classics. Last year I got COVID-19 at Paris-Nice and crashed out at the Tour of Flanders, wrecking the rest of my spring," he continues, although he realises, competing with the likes of Tadej Pogacar won't be easy.

"Tadej and the new generation of riders have changed the racing since I started as a professional, all the racing has changed," he says admiringly. "They race that way, attacking with 100km to go, because that's what suits them. if you let them ride their race, then you're probably going to lose so you need to go in a different way."