Michael Matthews sets sights on Giro d'Italia following a disappointing spring

Following a spring full of disappointment and setbacks, Michael Matthews now takes a month off to regroup and turn his attention to the Giro d'Italia a race where he has twice previously won stages.

With a positive coronavirus test meaning the Australian had to pull out of Paris-Nice, Matthews was then forced to miss Milano-Sanremo as he was still symptomatic. Finishing twentieth at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the 32-year-old then most recently crashed hard at the Tour of Flanders, forcing him to abandon and bringing his Spring Classics run to an end.

"For us, it is a real pity that Michael is not riding here," Team Jayco AlUla teammate Jan Maas told In de Leiderstrui prior to Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. With no racing scheduled for Matthews between now and the upcoming Giro d'Italia, the Australian is now expected to be training hard in order to be at his best before the iconic three-week long Italian stage race.