“I know myself that I’m a fair rider" - Michael Matthews responds for first time to controversial Tour of Flanders relegation that denied him podium finish

After a blistering sprint, Michael Matthews thought he'd secured himself a second monument podium of the season at the recent Tour of Flanders. Moments later however, that joy was controversially taken away as he was relegated by the race jury down to 11th.

The reason for the Australian's relegation? Deviating from his line in the sprint and allegedly pushing UAE Team Emirates' Nils Politt into the barriers. “From my point of view I attacked the bunch I was in to ride across to the last two riders I could see infront of me,” reflects Matthews to the official website of Team Jayco AlUla in his first response to the disappointment. “When I was coming close they where side by side, so I didn’t know which way to start my sprint but I knew there was a lot of room on the right side.

"So, to avoid them, I made my sprint like I did because I didn’t know what they would do infront of me," continues the 33-year-old who already finished a close second at Milano-Sanremo earlier this year. "I didn’t even know or see anyone on my wheel, I was just trying to ride to the finish with so much pain and lactate in my body. It was hard to even push the pedals over and sprint after such a brutal race.”

Team Jayco AlUla quickly appealed the decision but with no overturning on the horizon, Matthews was forced to miss out on the podium finish. “I’m still dealing with the decision,” admitted Matthews. “I know myself that I am very proud of my result and I’m a fair rider. I won’t let the decision take my memories away from what was a very special and beautiful day.”