Michael Matthews: "I’m ready to try and get the victory"

After his fourth place at Milano-Sanremo and his first win in year and a half at the Volta a Catalunya, Team BikeExchange - Jayco have expectations at the start of today's Amstel Gold Race as Michael Matthews leads in the team in another attempt to win one of the classics that's best suited to him.

“I feel like my form is good this season and after getting a victory in Catalunya it has given me more confidence and motivation. The Belgian classics were also good and I had good sensations there but I’m really looking forward to putting on a number and racing Amstel on Sunday. It’s a race I really like, I think it suits my characteristics and I’ve had some good consistent results there in the past. It’s a race I really want to win, last year I was fourth, which is always a hard position to finish in, so I have that extra motivation for this year’s race," Matthews said in a team press release.

In 2015, 2016 and 2021 Matthews has finished in the Top5, but has yet to net that elusive win. It's not usually an easy race for the riders who can sprint as they often get swarmed and attacked from all sides, and are left with the pressure of chasing. Matthews has often rode very well here, but with the emergence of new talents who will bare the favouritism responsibility, the Australian may finally get the perfect scenario for a win.

The racing all season has been super fast and aggressive and I think looking at how the peloton raced in the cobble classics, Amstel will be no different, so we all need to be alert, ready to suffer and I’m ready to try and get the victory," he concuded. With Luka Mezgec and Dion Smith as possible outsiders, the team's focus will be clear in keeping the race as compact as possible, but the offensive is expected from the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock.

Team BikeExchange - Jayco for Amstel Gold Race: Michael Matthews, Luka Mezgec, Alex Edmonson, Jan Maas, Alexandre Balmer, Luke Durbridge and Dion Smith.