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Follow us on GoogleMichael Matthews is everyone's friend in the peloton, as was evident in Milan-San Remo once again. The Aussie of Jayco AlUla fell just short of Jasper Philipsen in winning the race but was sportsmanlike enough to immediately embrace the Belgian (and third-place Tadej Pogacar) afterwards.
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Matthews, a long-time regular in the top ten and on the podium of Milan-San Remo, had fallen ill during Paris-Nice the previous week. "But ultimately, I think it only helped me, because the weather was not good," he had let on beforehand. The Aussie rode to the starting place Pavia on Thursday with good friend Pogacar, who, like him, resides in Monaco, and Pogacar's fiancée Urska Zigart.
Even during the race, Matthews appeared remarkably relaxed. In the first hours of the race, he casually chatted at the back of the peloton with, among others, Van der Poel, where the cameras even captured the two visibly feeling each other's mullets. Hours later, they encountered each other once again, but this time in the finale. VDP sacrificed his chances for Philipsen, which also suited Matthews.
Matthews proud, but also left with bitter feeling after second place in Milan-San Remo
In the sprint, the Aussie seemed on track to win, but ultimately Philipsen managed to overtake him at the last moment. "It's tough. I'm obviously happy with my podium finish, but there is also that bad aftertaste. I was close to a win in a Monument again, so... I think I did everything perfectly, so in that sense, I can't fault myself. I'm very proud of myself and the way I handled it. It's my favorite race of the year, so it's also special to be on the podium again."
Matthews maintained his position among the group of top favorites on the Poggio. "I guess Pogacar and Van der Poel were not as strong as we all thought beforehand, but that suited me just fine," he concluded with Eurosport.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026
