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Michael Matthews is in confident mood as he hopes to bring the Milan-San Remo title - the year's first one-day 'Monument' race - back to Australia.
Michael Matthews feels he's back where he belongs at Australia's Team BikeExchange and hopes the reunion will transport him back to the podium at one of cycling's 'Monument' races - the Milan-San Remo - this weekend.
The 30-year-old, known affectionately as "Bling" ever since his jewellery-adorned early years in the sport, has started his second spell at the rebranded GreenEdge team in promising fashion, having briefly worn the yellow jersey in last week's Paris-Nice race.
It's encouraged the Canberra rider to think he's in the right shape to finally annex the Milan-San Remo 'spring classic' on Saturday after twice previously enjoying third-place finishes, including in 2015 when he was first at GreenEdge.
No Australian has won the draining 299km Italian race often seen as the 'sprinters' classic' since Simon Gerrans prevailed in 2012, also for GreenEdge when the team was in its debut year.
Matthews, who was also on the podium last year with Sunweb, moved back to the Australian team last August with an eye on more serious assaults on the classics.
Reckoning that he really feels back at home, he enjoyed a good start to his European season last week, spending one early day in yellow in the week-long Paris-Nice.
"We had a strong week at Paris-Nice, great work from all the team, and it was really good for me, both physically and also mentally to be back with my GreenEdge teammates," said Matthews.
"Going to my next challenge of Milan-San Remo, I feel even more motivated to do well and our target is to fight to arrive until the last few metres at the front and play our best chances for victory.
"It will only be my second race of the 2021 season, but I feel good, and we will give our best shot at this unique and special race."
Matthews has been surrounded by a strong team, including three fellow Australians Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn and Robert Stannard.
"We have a really strong and dedicated team to look after Michael," said BikeExchange's head sport director Matt White.
"I believe it's a race that Michael can win. He showed us that he has good form in Paris-Nice and we are certainly aiming to win on Saturday."
