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Michael 'Bling' Matthews | The Future is Now
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 02-07-2014 08:24
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Introduction
G'day everyone, my name is Michael Matthews and i'm a pro cyclist currently riding for Orica-GreenEDGE. I'm 23 years of age, and I come from Canberra, Australia. This is my story and my journey as I go through the ups and downs as a cyclist.
I first turned pro in 2011 signing with Rabobank. This was after I won the Under-23 World Road Race Championships which were held in Australia, one of the proudest moments of my career. I started 2011 off with a bang by winning a stage early in the Tour Down Under, beating the likes of Andre Greipel and Matthew Goss and then ending the race in 4th overall. Long story short, this was the main highlight of my time at Rabobank, I won a few other races but ultimately I wasnt making the sort of progess I wanted to and after my 2 year contract was up I signed with Australian outfit Orica-GreenEDGE. I felt this was a big step forward in my career and that they would give me the support I needed.
As it turned out I had a pretty good year, I won a couple of stages in the US before riding in my first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a Espana and winning 2 stages, including the final stage into Madrid. This was a huge accomplishment for me and has put me in good stead heading into my 2nd year with the team.
I hope you all enjoy reading this and I hope I can bring some good results for you to see.
Database: Adam's PCM14 DB
Evolution of Attributes: 0.3
Difficulty: Extreme
Edited by Chirpin on 02-07-2014 12:27
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 02-07-2014 08:27
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Season Schedule
*Races bolded are personal objectives for the season.
January
 Australian Championship
Tour Down Under
February
 Tour of Oman
March
 Clasica de Almeria
 Paris-Nice
 Milan-Sanremo
April
 Schledeprijs
Paris-Camembert
Amstel Gold Race
May
 Amgen Tour of California
June
 Tour de Suisse
July
Tour de France
August
 Vattenfall Classics
September
 GP Quebec
GP Montreal
UCI World Championships
Edited by Chirpin on 02-07-2014 09:58
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 02-07-2014 08:59
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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The Team
I don't think there is a better team to ride for when it comes to comradery and togetherness than OGE. We're not just teammates, we're all good mates and everyone is willing to give 110% for each other, there are no selfish individuals on this team and that's what makes it so great to ride with these guys. However like other teams we do have our stronger riders that we ride for in the key races throughout the year.
Simon Gerrans
The Sniper, they call him. Gerro knows how to win bike races as he's shown in the past. A great tactician and not a bad sprinter either. He will be targetting the Ardennes Classics, stage wins in the Tour de France and the World Champs.
Michael Albasini
A similar rider to Gerro, very strong in small bunch finishes. Loves the really steep climbs and will be targetting similar races to Gerrans.
Matthew Goss
A great sprinter but has had a few disappointing years by his standards. Hopefully he can bounce back to top form and compete with the elite sprinters.
Summary
I can go on but we have a strong team capable of winning alot of races. With great young talent coming through with the Yates brothers, Chaves, Durbo, Hepburn, Howson and Ewan set to join the team later this year I think the team is set to have a strong year.
That's it for the introduction guys, feel free to leave any comments or questions and I'll be sure to respond to them when I can 
Edited by Chirpin on 02-07-2014 09:04
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-07-2014 09:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Best of luck! Great guy to start a story with |
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 02-07-2014 13:49
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Australian Road Race Championships
Squad
Race Preview
I'm going into this race feeling pretty good, Gerro looks a bit out of shape but the team will still look after him, i'll have a few guys helping me out too as I will get an opportunity to ride for the win today should i have the legs at the crucial moments.
The Race
My first day in the saddle for 2014
It took a few laps of the circuit before we had a group of 3 go up the road into the break, we weren't too worried at this point. They hovered at around 8 minutes ahead before we started to reel them in, with the help of Team Sky.
Surprisingly, Evans attacked quite early with 35km to go.
Porte rode off the front on the descent with Sutton and then bridged across to Evans very quickly. Gerrans was yet to move at this point. We still had 2 more climbs to go.
Porte and Evans weren't co-operating and so the team brought them back before Evans attacked again at the foot of the climb. Evans caught the breakaway and soon after was on his own at the front, Porte then bridged across and gapped Evans. Unfortunately for me I have not been feeling good at all but im still in this chase group so I can try my best to hangon and see how things play out.
Gerrans attacks at the foot of the final climb! He quickly catches and drops Evans who has spent far too much energy with his previous attacks. He puts in a big effort to catch Porte and is able to latch onto his wheel over the top of the climb.
Rogers catches Gerro and Porte on the descent and surprises them when he gets the jump in the sprint.
Gerro tries his best to bring him back but falls short by half a bike length. Disappointing for the team as we really wanted to win this.
I came in with a top 5 finish by leading the bunch home in the sprint.
| Rank | Name | Team | | 1 | Michael Rogers | Tinkoff-Saxo | | 2 | Simon Gerrans | Orica-GreenEDGE | | 3 | Richie Porte | Team Sky | | 4 | Cadel Evans | BMC Racing Team | | 5 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE |
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 02-07-2014 14:39
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Ah, Gerrans was so close. Nice start of the story, I like the reports!
Good luck.
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 02-07-2014 14:55
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 857
Joined: 13-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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So close....ahhh |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 10:03
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Bot Agent
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Joined: 23.11.09
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 02-07-2014 16:00
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@admir and dark
Yes very close, a bit unlucky in the end. Anyway, onwards to the next race
Squad
Race Preview
As expected, we go into the Tour Down Under with the goal of winning the overall, things will be a bit tougher this time with no Gerrans here. Clarkey and I will be co-leaders.
Stage 1 Preview
An early chance for myself to win a stage. It's mostly flat throughout but a climb towards the end plus the finish being slighlty uphill should favour me. There is stiff competition here with guys such as Rojas, Marcato and Navardasukas here to contend against.
The Race
Breakaways were unsuccessful early which opened up a chance for me to get a few bonus seconds in the first intermediate sprint of the race. I made my run late but did enough to take 1st place and 3 bonus seconds, beating Coquard and Fernandez.
The break of the day was formed between the 2 sprint points with 2 riders getting away. I decided not to contest for the 1 bonus second.
As we hit the Cat 1 climb 15km from the line the break didnt have much more than 50 seconds lead.
The climb was quite uneventful and it was all backtogether with 5km to go. You can see me here sitting behind the Movistar train.
It turns out to be the right wheel to follow as Amador bring Rojas into a goodposition and im in a great spot here with 2km to go.
As I open up my sprint I notice Daryl has shot up on my left and is right in contention to win this aswell, Rojas is still leading but I think I can come around him.
VICTORY! A great way to open up the tour for us, Daryl crossed 5th and Clarkey finished well on the uphill aswell, making the top 10.
Stage Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | 2h57'38 | | 2 | José Joaquin Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 3 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 4 | Nathan Haas | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 5 | Daryl Impey | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 6 | Jens Debusschere | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 7 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 8 | Heinrich Haussler | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 9 | Simon Clarke | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 10 | Bryan Coquard | Team Europcar | s.t. |
Edited by Chirpin on 02-07-2014 16:02
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-07-2014 17:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Great stage win for Michael  , the first of many i hope |
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| Roextro |
Posted on 02-07-2014 17:39
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2370
Joined: 24-01-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck with this story, have fun |
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 02-07-2014 18:00
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 857
Joined: 13-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Hurray  |
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 03-07-2014 07:59
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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@sutty - One can only hope
@jihardy - Thanks, appreciate it.
Stage 2 Preview
I have fond memories here, winning this stage back in 2011 in my first year as a pro. I'm feeling good to go for another stage win here. We spend the first half of the day racing on fairly flat roads before riding 3 laps on the hilly circuit which, like yesterday will suit my abilities.
The team will have to ride hard to protect my leaders jersey and im sure they'll be up to the task.
The Race
A group of 3 riders jumped away early. We decided to let them go. They opened up around 7 mins before we started to pull them back.
Albert Timmer was the last rider out infront, but he was running out of gas and you can see we make the catch with around 5km to go.
I found myself a bit far back as the Lotto train had gotten away from me.
It slows up just enough to allow me to get right back in this, I swing off Hoflands wheel and am looking to close in on Rojas once again.
We come around a tight bend under the 1km banner here and I make my move, Marcato is finishing very well also.
TWO FROM TWO!!! I open up a gap quite easily in the end and have more than enoughh time to celebrate across the line. The team rode brilliantly today.
Stage Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | 3h39'06 | | 2 | Mikhail Ignatiev | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 3 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | s.t. | | 4 | José Joaquin Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 5 | Thomas De Gendt | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step | s.t. | | 6 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 7 | Nathan Haas | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 8 | Jérémy Roy | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 9 | Sébastien Reichenbach | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 10 | Vasil Kiryienka | Team Sky | s.t. |
Edited by Chirpin on 03-07-2014 08:01
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 03-07-2014 10:35
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 857
Joined: 13-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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2 out of 2. Let's see if he can win all of them now. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-07-2014 12:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Michael showing everyone what he does best  |
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| steve smink |
Posted on 03-07-2014 12:27
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 31-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Rojas in 4th 
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 04-07-2014 07:43
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 3 Preview
Similar to stage 1, but this hill at the end is much tougher and there is a potential for gaps here. Its a steep descent from the top all the way to the finish here so the team and myself will have to be vigilant here.
The Race
Once again a group of 3 riders were in the break.
We started our chase quite early as we didnt want the break to have any chance of leading over the final climb, as you can see here they are working hard for me.
We hit the bottom of the climb and Impey was our last guy left driving it as hard as he could, the break were still ahead but not by much.
Impey pulled off and it was down to Clarkey and myself to get a result, the attacks came thick and fast with Marcato and Reichenbach putting in strong attacks, I had to go with them and managed to cross over the top with the leaders. As we started the descent we got word on the radio that our group of 5 riders had a gap of 1 minute!
As the finish approached Marcato jumped early and I try to follow him.
Im slowly closing as we cross under the banner but the legs are really burning now, can I make it 3 in a row?
Unfortunately it wasn't to be as Marcato takes the win, to add to that we ended up without a timegap to the 2nd group of around 15 riders containing Clarke because the group didnt work well enough on the descent. However I will keep the leaders jersey.
Stage Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | 3h22'09 | | 2 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 3 | Ben Hermans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 4 | Sébastien Reichenbach | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 5 | Aliaksandr Kuchynski | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 6 | Adam Hansen | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 7 | Simon Clarke | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 8 | José Joaquin Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 10 | Jérémy Roy | FDJ.fr | s.t. |
General Classification
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | 9h58'24 | | 2 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | + 15 | | 3 | Aliaksandr Kuchynski | Team Katusha | + 22 | | 4 | José Joaquin Rojas | Movistar Team | + 23 | | 5 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Garmin Sharp | + 25 | | 6 | Ben Hermans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 7 | Nathan Haas | Garmin Sharp | + 29 | | 8 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 9 | Jérémy Roy | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 10 | Adam Hansen | Lotto Belisol | s.t. |
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| dark_x2012 |
Posted on 04-07-2014 07:46
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 857
Joined: 13-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Noooooooooooooooo.  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 04-07-2014 09:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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So close to another win, Damn you Marcato |
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| Chirpin |
Posted on 05-07-2014 07:04
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Under 23
Posts: 81
Joined: 15-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 4 Preview
The first proper sprinters stage, I think it will be more testing for me here with Hofland, Rojas, Coquard and a few others showing good early form.
The Race
A break of 5 riders today.
The wind really picked up during the stage and there were splits beginning to form in the peloton. I made sure to keep myself at the front.
With 10km to go I asked Clarkey to really increase the pace and amazingly we caught everyone by surprise and opened up a little gap.
There was a severe reaction from inside the peloton which resulted in even further splits happening, the breakaway was still ahead but the chase group had been whittled down to around 20 riders thanks to Clarkes acceleration.
I followed the other riders as they started their sprints, we had a little hill to cross over but it didnt matter as the breakaway was going to win, you can see a few riders from the break just ahead.
Favilli from Lampre takes the stage
Marcato leads the group home and I cross just inside the top 10. I'll retain the leaders jersey.
As it turns out, alot of riders in the top 10 GC missed the split when Clarkey made that acceleration, we're now left with only 10 riders with a chance of taking the overall.
Stage Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Elia Favilli | Lampre-Merida | 3h20'29 | | 2 | Lieuwe Westra | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 3 | Koen De Kort | Team Giant-Shimano | s.t. | | 4 | Reto Hollenstein | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 5 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | s.t. | | 6 | David Millar | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 7 | Christopher Sutton | Team Sky | s.t. | | 8 | Jens Debusschere | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 9 | Barry Markus | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 10 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. |
General Classification
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Michael Matthews | Orica-GreenEDGE | 13h18'53 | | 2 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | + 15 | | 3 | José Joaquin Rojas | Movistar Team | + 23 | | 4 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Garmin Sharp | + 25 | | 5 | Ben Hermans | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 6 | Nathan Haas | Garmin Sharp | + 29 | | 7 | Adam Hansen | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 8 | Nicki Sørensen | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. | | 9 | Simon Clarke | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 10 | Karsten Kroon | Tinkoff-Saxo | s.t. |
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| Roextro |
Posted on 05-07-2014 07:31
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2370
Joined: 24-01-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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A very impressive showing by Matthews in this tour, with only a few stages left he could win the GC |
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