"It's an honour to come back after a lot of years away" - Michael Matthews ready to return home at Tour Down Under

Team Jayco AlUla's Michael Matthews has long been one of Australian cycling's most recognisable faces on the world stage. On the 17th of January, the Aussie sprinter returns home, riding the Tour Down Under for the first time since 2014.

"It's an honour to come back after a lot of years away and I mean, doing my thing overseas and then coming back and still getting some huge support on the side of the roads from Aussie fans," Matthews told Cycling News. "This year we want to change things up a little bit after a lot of years of COVID and not being able to travel and the events not being on, but now it's on full gas. So we're back here with all guns blazing."

With Team Jayco AlUla entering the race with a strong team and big ambitions, a lot will ride on Matthews having a successful race if the team are to achieve their goals. "I think it (the course) suits me a little bit better than the hilltop finish in Willunga, so I think that's why we put a lot to bring a really strong team here to the Tour Down Under this year," said the four-time Tour de France stage winner.

"We have also got Simon Yates who is in great shape too. So we've got a lot of options, which is good. It's not just the one. So yeah, we're going to play all the cards."