Michael Matthews has clear ambitions for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race: "The plan is to win"

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will be taking place tonight and one of the main favourites if Team Jayco AlUla's Michael Matthews. Being perfectly suited to the course and showing good form at the Tour Down Under, the 32-year old is looking to win on his debut.

“The plan is to win. We are here with a great strong team. Obviously for us, being the Aussie WorldTour team, we are here with our A team to deliver on Sunday," Matthews said in a press conference before the Australian race. "It is a race we were all looking forward to, especially for me with the memories I have here. But a lot of our guys have raced here before so they know what we are in for.”

Matthews is a renowned puncheur and sprinter and the Australian race will suit him well, as the ascents of the Challambra Crescent are set to tear the peloton to bits, but the finale of the race offers an opportunity for the fast men to nevertheless thrive.

Matthews talks of that climb: “I did it four times yesterday in my training and it is probably just under 3 minutes from bottom to top - first climb, full gas so that's going to create some fireworks for sure. And then we’ve got the downhill into the next climb so there is no real rest around here.”

With the support of Simon Yates, the team has the option to cover attacks, but also to work on a chase and try to lead to a reduced bunch sprint. Matthews' last win was at the Tour de France and he's looking to add another high-level victory to his palmarès before travelling back to Europe.

“That’ll suit me a bit more. I haven’t had the Aussie summer to prepare properly. I did as much as I could overseas to prepare in the heat but in the end, there is nothing like actually being here. I am a little bit more with the Euros where I wouldn’t mind it a bit cooler and then I can do my thing a bit better," he concluded.