Michael Matthews moves up in overall standings after first stage of Tour Down Under- "I think I can call it a successful day, because the goal was to get as many bonuses as possible"
Cycling
Michael Matthews narrowly missed out on winning the first stage of the Tour Down Under, with Phil Bauhaus edging him out for victory in the final sprint.
The extreme heat in Australia can be challenging for European riders, however today's weather was relatively mild in comparison. “I wouldn't have minded a tougher stage, but the peloton wanted to cruise. The weather didn't make it too hard either, it wasn't as hot as it normally is. The guys who came over from Europe also had good legs,” said Matthews after the race.
The Australian rider moved up in the overall standings and is now in second place, just behind Alberto Bettiol. “That is why I think I can call it a successful day. The guys on the team did a great job, because the goal was to get as many bonuses as possible. I now have eight, so I can be satisfied with that. All the guys did a perfect job during the ride, then Campbell Stewart did a perfect lead-out for me in the closing stages,” said Matthews.
The day was a success for him, even though he didn't win, he was able to ride in front of his loved ones."Maybe I should be disappointed because I was so close to it, but I knew it would be difficult against some fast guys. So I call it a good day, also because my parents were here with friends to encourage me and my girlfriend flew over from Europe for the same reason. I am a satisfied man,” concluded Matthews.
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- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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How good was Michael Matthews all day? How close was he today? Half a wheel! We hear from him post race. @ziptrak | @SantosLtd #TourDownUnder
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