'I still feel like I’m 25 years old'; Michael Matthews remains with undiminished ambitions at Jayco AlUla
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Follow us on GoogleJust 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.
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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.
Continue reading below the photo!
Matthews still feels 2025
'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.'
Continue reading below the photo!
Jayco AlUla firmly believes in Matthews
'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.'
Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- No ‘cross at all this winter? That’s a shame, but with his road season starting in February, I can see why he’d want a proper break. Does stepping away mean he’s done with cyclocross for good?gearguru3311-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Three sets of tyres in two days at the Nürburgring! The man clearly doesn’t do anything by halves. Bet a winter without cyclocross will feel strange, though.bikebuffj11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026