Rainbow stripes "is what we've been thinking about since we knew about this race" Michael Matthews confirms

Racing at his home country is something Michael Matthews has not done for several years, but he will make a special return to Australia this Sunday to try and capture the rainbow jersey under special circumstances.

In a recent interview with Cyclingnews, Matthews said that "I haven't been back there since 2017. I think just being back in Australia will be quite emotional. But putting on the [Australian] jersey and having my teammates around to go and fight for that [rainbow] jersey, it's going to be special." The Team BikeExchange - Jayco rider will be leading the home nation at the worlds, with the ambitions of a rainbow jersey at the end of this Sunday's race.

"I'll just personally be happy if I give it everything I have and have no regrets on the race. And whether that's the rainbow jersey or podium, or top five. I think I just have to give it everything," he added. The punchy climbs and flat finish in Wollongong will suit Matthews very well, he who has recently won the sprint for second place at the GP de Québec, and finished 13th in the more similarly hard GP de Montréal.

However over the summer he's shown stronger results, having won the summit finish in Mende at the Tour de France, aswell as finishing second in both punchy finishes at Longwy and Lausanne, behind Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert respectively, who will be amongst the main favourites for this weekend's race aswell.

Although Jai Hindley is still undecided to race following a Covid-19 infection, Ben O'Connor and Nick Schultz should be able to support the 31-year in his pursuit of success. "My teammates need to know what I need on the day to deliver and yeah, I think it's going to be a roller coaster. But hopefully everything I've done this year, I can put all that strength, that knowledge, that experience into that one day at the Worlds. I mean, this is what we've been thinking about since we knew about this race. So hopefully it comes together."

After finishing on the podium in 2015 and 2017, Matthews will once again be aiming high at the Worlds. The last time the Worlds took place in Australia, back in 2010 in Geelong, Matthews took the under-23 title. "I think it's just gonna be an amazing race. Having a World Championships in Australia – the vibe in 2010 was incredible. Australians don't get this level of cycling very often," he concluded.