'I still feel like I’m 25 years old'; Michael Matthews remains with undiminished ambitions at Jayco AlUla

Just a few days ago, they were not sure of their continued existence in 2026, but Jayco AlUla will be retained for cycling and so will Michael Matthews for the next two years. The 35-year-old figurehead of the team will stay on board longer as the leader of the Australian-Saudi formation.

Matthews is in his second stint with the team. Between 2013 and 2016 he already rode for Australia's biggest formation and after serving with Sunweb, he has been with the team since 2021. In those years he won stages in the Giro and Tour and the GP Quebec, among other races.

Matthews also rode the podium in races such as Milan-Sanremo. Last year he managed to win Eschborn-Frankfurt, but was also sidelined for a long time with a pulmonary embolism. As a result, he had to miss the 2025 Tour de France.

'I think after the problems I had during the summer this year it made me appreciate the team, my life, the way it is and the last years I’ve had in cycling. I still feel like I’m 25 years old, so I’m excited to continue this journey with Team Jayco AlUla and my own cycling career. ' he stated in a team press release.

'I really feel like I’m getting better and better, so I’m really looking forward to another two years with the team and seeing what we can achieve together. Hopefully I can achieve those goals that I’ve been looking for in my career along with the team. I’m just really excited to see what these next two years bring and just appreciate every moment.'

'Michael has proven time and time again what he’s capable of in the biggest races and we’re happy to see him continue with us next season. He’s had a difficult 2025 season, as we know, but the way he has returned to racing and the dedication he has shown to get back to the top proves what type of rider he is', stated team manager Brent Copeland.

'He’s a true professional and an asset to the team. He still has some big goals in the sport and we’re looking forward to working with him and achieving them together.'