Michael Matthews picks up new injury after recovering from Covid

Team BikeExchange - Jayco's leader Michael Matthews has not had the brightest start to the season. Despite showing some good form at Mallorca early in the year he didn't manage to take a win, after he left Spain he's been infected with Covid-19 and now upon returning to competition, he crashed out of Strade Bianche.

“We came over a crest then downhill [into] a massive crosswind. I was actually okay and avoiding some of the crashes and then someone ran into me really fast from behind and flipped me over my handlebars, so that was my Strade Bianche done which I’m really disappointed about," Matthews said after the finish. Matthews was involved in the mass crash that took place with 100 kilometers to go.

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“I think the wind today was probably not normal for this area. We were just a bit unlucky in that section. Wrong place at the right time, unfortunately," he added.

“It would have been really a good result today. I was really looking forward to it. Feeling really good in the race, so just disappointed. I’d love to still be in the race but I’m sitting in the bus with probably stitches in my chin and stitches in my knee, so not the greatest day.”

Despite this, Matthews is starting at Tirreno-Adriatico today. It is unsure if he will have the legs to be competitive or if his injuries will hold him down, but it is a very important phase of the season for him.