Michael Matthews, the Australian star known throughout cycling as 'Bling', will be shooting for more Grand Tour baubles when he headlines Team Jayco AlUla's three-pronged bid for glory at the Tour de France.
In the Australian team's eight-strong squad named on Thursday, Matthews will be joined by Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and British general classification contender Simon Yates as potential threats.
Matthews, a four-time stage winner at the world's biggest race in his seven previous appearances, is motivated to make that figure at least five after an excellent start to the season topped by his runner's-up spot at the Milan-San Remo 'Monument' classic.
An allround talent who remains a threat at 33, Matthews, known as 'Bling' ever since he was given the moniker as a youngster because of his bright clothes, pierced ears and eyebrow, is still shining after winning 10 Grand Tour stages in all.
Only seven active riders have won more than that, with his teammate Caleb Ewan currently the top Australian on 11, a landmark Canberra's Matthews will be seeking to at least equal when the Tour departs from Florence in Italy on June 29.
He'll be backed by two other Australians in the team with 33-year-old stalwart Luke Durbridge making his 10th Tour appearance and Chris Harper, who will be the key lieutenant for Yates in the mountains in the Briton's bid to make the overall podium.
"I’m looking forward to returning to the Tour this year and after my stage win in 2022, I really want to take another win in 2024," said Matthews, referring to his terrific, gutsy victory in the 14th stage two years ago when he looked beaten before rallying to overhaul Italian Alberto Bettiol in a mountain finale at Mende.
"I’m feeling in good shape, had a good start to the season, on the podium again at Milan-San Remo and have been close to some wins, so after a lot of training at altitude and some stage recons I hope everything will fall into place at the Tour.
"It’s interesting starting in Florence and will be cool starting the final stage in Monaco where I live. The team we have is solid, we all know each other well and it’s been a similar team to the last year's so we’re ready.”
The 2018 Vuelta a Espana champion Yates won't be among the biggest favourites, with champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) announced on Thursday as a starter in a field that will also include Giro champion Tadej Pogacar and 2022 Vuelta king Remco Evenepoel.
But his credentials demand respect. "It would be nice to get on to the top step and overall podium. I have held the leader’s jersey in the Giro and Vuelta, and podiumed overall in both, but not in the Tour yet. That’s a big goal of mine,” he said.
Groenewegen got the team off to a brilliant start in 2022 with a stage-three victory - his fifth Tour de France stage win - and is hungry for further success in an edition which should give him seven or eight victory opportunities, aided by a sprint train featuring Dutch compatriot Elmar Reinders and Slovenian Luka Mezgec.
Jayco AlUla team:
Luke Durbridge (Australia), Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands), Chris Harper (Australia), Chris Juul-Jensen (Denmark), Michael Matthews (Australia), Luka Mezgec (Slovenia), Elmar Reinders (Netherlands), Simon Yates (GB).
