Michael Matthews seeking medal in Wollongong - "We’re going there 100 per cent for that goal"

Michael Matthews will be leading Australia, the home team, at the Wollongong World championships and the ambitions are high taking into consideration the strong lineup and the strong results over this year.

“Winning the under-23 world title on home soil was really a dream come true coming into the pros. Now, having it back in Australia again when I’m really at the top of my game is a dream come true," Matthews said in a press release. The Team BikeExchange - Jayco is not leading the team for the first time, but racing at home will give the Australian leam a special motivation and attention within the race. Having won a very difficult hilly stage at the Tour de France this year, and taking into consideration his results of the past few years, he will be a legitimate candidate for the win.

"I really want to make the most of it – and have a great time – and hopefully stand on that top step. We’re going there 100 per cent for that goal: to win the medal for Australia," he said. Matthews was second in the 2015 World championships, third in 2017, fourth in 2016 and seventh in 2020. His specialty as a puncheur with a strong sprint makes him suited to the classics-style racing that is frequent at the Worlds, and this year is no exception.

“We have a great team for a course like this. This course suits Australians really well, for the races that we grew up doing. I think it was quite difficult for the selectors to put it down to a group of eight guys, but they’ve done a great job and I think the team’s going to be super strong," Matthews added. He will have support with the likes of Ben O'Connor, Luke Plapp, Nick Schultz and Jai Hindley alongside him. "We have a lot of guys for different sort of areas of the race, and hopefully we can play the race into our favour and then do our thing in the final.”