"Where has the respect in the peloton gone?" - Michael Matthews' Tour Down Under dreams shattered by mechanical failure

For Michael Matthews, the Tour Down Under was shaping up to be one of his best rides for the new season. He was in the company of his breakaway companions, the group working together to push through the miles. But a disaster struck. A mechanical failure caused a significant setback, costing him more than 2 minutes and leaving him disappointed and frustrated.

"I don't know what happened," Matthews said after the race. He continues, "I was well positioned, gained time in the intermediate sprints along the way, and the team rode incredibly well."

The chain on his bike jammed, and though he tried to fix it, he was unable to continue his ride until he got a new bike, however, by that time it was already too late. ”But I do not know. Where has the respect in the peloton gone? I was riding in a good position but was pushed from both sides. My chain got caught between my frame and crank, and I couldn't get it out," said the Australian rider.

His aspirations for the general classification have come to an end due to today's incident, and the team must now rely on Simon Yates to maintain their general classification ambition. “I was lucky that some guys helped me to get back time, but actually, it was over from that moment. What now? Everything for Yates, I think, hopefully, we have a plan B with him,” concluded Matthews.