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"Hopefully the adrenaline I'm going to feel from the crowd will take me far" - Michael Matthews not at 100% but still keen to compete
CyclingSunday, 06 August 2023 at 14:30
Three times Michael Matthews has been on the podium at the World Championships most recently finishing third in 2022. The big Australian hope once again this time around, 'Bling' isn't competing at 100% however.
"This is certainly not an ideal preparation but it is what it is. Hopefully, the adrenaline I'm going to feel from the crowd will take me far into the World Championships," Matthews told In de Leiderstrui in a pre-race interview, referencing the persistent shoulder injury that has plagued him recently.
"My shoulder might hold me back a bit, but I'm ready to work this Sunday," he defiantly declares. "With a bit of luck I won't even feel the pain during the race, but yes, it's not the best preparation. I'm where I need to be, in terms of form."
After finishing last year in Wollongong, his best result at the World Championships since 2017, Matthews remains confident in his chances of finally taking the Rainbow Jersey. “It will be a huge battle on the track. Even the first lap will be difficult. I think it will be every man for himself. Most riders who start on Sunday have seen the junior race on Saturday. There after one lap there were only thirty to forty riders in the peloton. That could also happen with us, among the elite."
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