'Bling' is back! Michael Matthews returns to racing for first time since serious health scare

Michael Matthews will make his long-awaited return to competition this weekend at the Bretagne Classic 2025, marking an emotional comeback for the Australian star just two months after he was sidelined by a serious health scare.

The 34-year-old, who was ruled out of the Tour de France in June after doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism, is set to pin a number on again for the first time since that diagnosis. For Matthews, the return could not come at a more fitting race: Plouay, where he has tasted success before, winning the Bretagne Classic in 2020 and consistently performing well on the challenging circuit.

Matthews’ enforced break from racing shocked the cycling world earlier this summer. During an altitude training camp in June, Team Jayco AlUla’s medical staff discovered worrying signs of a pulmonary embolism — a blockage in one of the lung’s arteries, most commonly caused by blood clots travelling from the legs. The condition can severely restrict breathing, place strain on the heart, and in some cases, be life-threatening.

The team immediately ruled Matthews out of competition and confirmed that he would miss the Tour de France. At the time, they stressed his condition was stable but emphasised the need to pause all physical activity as a precaution while specialists investigated further.

That decision, though difficult, has allowed Matthews to make a safe recovery and now set his sights on finishing the season strongly.

Speaking in a team press release ahead of his return in France, Matthews admitted the last few months have been tough but is eager to resume racing: “I’m really looking forward to pinning a number on again and getting out there with my teammates. These last few months have been tough, but I’m ready and excited to get back racing again.

"It is also special to be returning to a race that I have good memories of after my win back in 2020. I’ve also had some other good results here in my career and it’s a race that suits me well. We have a strong team with a few options that we can play, so I’m excited to be back and to finish the season on a high with these next few races.”

Team Jayco AlUla will field a powerful seven-man squad for the 261.7km French classic, ensuring Matthews is not the sole card to play. Swiss national champion Mauro Schmid and newly crowned Italian champion Filippo Conca bring firepower, while fast-finishing German Felix Engelhardt adds an extra sprint option. The team’s depth is completed by Davide De Pretto, veteran Alessandro De Marchi, and the attacking Filippo Zana.

Sport Director Pieter Weening echoed Matthews’ enthusiasm, while recognising the challenge of returning at one of the calendar’s most demanding one-day races: “We have a nice team for Plouay and it’s good to have Michael back after his injury. We will see how far he can get into the final, but I’m quite confident Michael is going to be good, he’s a real professional athlete."

"On the other hand, it’s his first race back and it’s a long race, 260km with almost a little more than 4800 altitude metres, so it’s also going to be a hard race for him. Then for the others we have Mauro there who can go after a result, and also Felix and Zana, this is also a race that suits these guys. In the end we will try to be there with as many guys as possible in the final and we just want to race. It’s going to be an honest race – if you want to end up in the final and make a result, you need to have the legs.”