Decisive week for Michael Matthews as he looks for renewal with Team BikeExchange - Jayco

Michael Matthews has been one of the most important members of Team BikeExchange - Jayco over the last decade, bringing in several high-level wins and a constant spotlight over the year where he's been at the team. He's look to stay ahead of the 2022 season.

Matthews has said during the ongoing Tour de France that his priority is to stay with Team BikeExchange - Jayco, however an agreement has not yet been had and there are possibilities of the Australian moving out of the team - which is currently at risk of being relegated to Pro Team level.

“Obviously, I’m in discussion and I should know by the next rest day. Staying would be my first priority but then we’ll see," he told VeloNews. Yesterday he was a contender for the stage win, but BikeExchange rode in the peloton trying to set up a sprint for Dylan Groenewegen, without the results that were hoped for.

“Obviously, we knew that it was going to be a breakaway and that it would have a high chance of winning the stage. That was the first priority. When we missed that we gambled a little bit, and personally I had a really bad day, but Dylan got over the climbs quite well," he described. The Australian team took up the pace late in the day, and although it managed to shorten the gap, nothing could be done at that point regarding the breakaway's chances.

“The next two days are opportunities and hopefully I’m feeling better and not sick. It’s really difficult to race with these guys when you’re not at 100 percent," he concluded.