"The legs were simply not there" - Michael Matthews laments bad day on a perfect finish

Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under was one that had been set up for the sprinters, and the uphill ramps to Willunga were perfect for a few riders including Michael Matthews. The Team Jayco AlUla rider was disappointed with an eventual sixth place.

"I was really hoping for the stage win, but the legs were simply not there," Matthews said in a post-race interview. “We still believed in it and went for it. The team set me up perfectly all day, including in the echelons, but in the end I just didn't have the legs to finish it off."

The efforts from the day proved costly, and in the final Matthews didn't have the energy to do an ideal sprint. He remains in the lead of the points classification, but it is of little consolation. Ahead of the final stage, Matthews is keen on helping Simon Yates fight for the overall victory: "We're still in and won't give up until we get to the finish line on Sunday."

"This week has been a rollercoaster for us, but Yates has stayed strong and is still in a position to win this race. And that is of course our goal. We're not here for second place, but to win. We have selected the best riders for this, so hopefully we can all do everything we can to put Yates on that highest step one more time," Matthews concluded.