En 11 participations à Milan-San Remo il a fini six fois dans le top 10 et trois fois sur le podium. Encore deuxième l'an passé Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) espère décrocher cette année son premier Monument. Cyclism'Actu était présent à la conférence de presse donnée par le coureur australien à quelques jours de la Primavera et a pu lui poser quelques questions.
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00:00Yeah, the start of the season, I mean, yeah, I raced in the end of January in Castellon
00:10where I started also my season last year.
00:12Yeah, obviously didn't win it like last year, so it wasn't the dream start like we had last
00:18year, but yeah, I think other than that, everything's gone really well to plan.
00:26I got through Paris-Nice, which was a goal of mine, to get through Paris-Nice without
00:31getting sick and without any injuries.
00:35And yeah, everything is falling into place.
00:37I think I was able to help out my teammates there with Max Walshard in the sprints and
00:43Ben O'Connor going for the GC.
00:48Obviously it didn't work out, unfortunately, but it wasn't through lack of teamwork and
00:54good teamwork what we did.
00:56The result wasn't there.
00:57So it's a bit unfortunate, but yeah, I can say for myself personally, I'm better than
01:03where I was last year.
01:04So that's definitely a positive feeling going into a race that I really love and really
01:12target every year.
01:16What is it about Milan-San Remo that you really love, because you're obviously very good at
01:21it?
01:22What's the drawcard for you there?
01:24Honestly, I think it just suits me really well, this race.
01:27A long race and a very hard final, which normally comes down to a very reduced sprint.
01:34So I'm naturally quite good at long races, which suits my characteristics really well.
01:41And just racing in Italy, being amongst the Italian fans and riding from Milan to San
01:48Remo, it just has a special place in my heart.
01:51And also finishing, I think, within 30 kilometres of where I currently live in Monaco, it's
01:58very special.
01:59And I think just hitting those Sopressa Poggio climbs after 260 kilometres, it's really man-on-man.
02:09And you really get to see guys really suffering and giving it all to make sure they can get
02:15over those two key climbs and whatever they have left in the finish will be the result.
02:20So I think what keeps drawing me back is that feeling that anything could possibly happen
02:28in this race.
02:29It's not normally a given what is going to happen in this race.
02:33It's always up in the air and it's always exciting, which keeps drawing me back.
02:41You were saying about the whole kind of man-on-man aspect of it, after all that huge distance.
02:48Is Milan-San Remo, is it perhaps out of all the races in the calendar, it's the one where
02:53you kind of really get to experience that kind of visceral one-on-one thing where you
03:00can sort of look in someone's eyes and sort of see what they're feeling like going into
03:05that final?
03:06Yeah, definitely.
03:08I think a lot of the other races, it's a lot about positioning all day, making sure you're
03:14in position, having a good, strong team around you to support you all through the race, where
03:18Milan-San Remo really comes down to basically one climb, to be honest, and then you can
03:23really see guys' legs, how they're actually feeling and what power they have left in their
03:29body to either attack on that climb or play their cards to wait for the sprint.
03:34So yeah, it's definitely a different classic to the rest of the classics we have all year,
03:40which I think it suits me quite well.
03:43It's really one hard effort and then normally quite a reduced or breakaway solo rider in
03:50the finish, which you never know what is really going to happen, so it keeps it exciting.
03:57Living so nearby to the finish there, as you mentioned, have you been kind of practising
04:04on those climbs, riding up those climbs throughout the winter?
04:06I imagine you probably do every winter actually, but yeah, it seems like it's quite handy.
04:13A place to do a recon.
04:16Yeah, I would say this year I've done it much more than I would have in the past, or I did
04:21in the past, sorry.
04:22I think in the past I did it maybe once just before the race and then didn't really go
04:29back, but this year, I think after last year, how it went and losing by, what was it, a
04:36tyre width or something, it gave me extra motivation to really maybe put a bit more
04:43time into the recon, making sure I know every piece of the road, which I sort of did before,
04:49but not to the amount of detail that I do now, let's say.
04:53I think in the winter I did it between 20 or 30 times now, this recon, and I've sort
04:58of understood how to get to San Remo and back without getting in trouble with too many cars,
05:04because once you cross the border into Italy, it can get a little bit crazy with cars and
05:08a little bit unsafe.
05:09So I found a nice ride down the footpath, which can get me to San Remo now nice and
05:14safe and then jump onto the climbs and have a great time.
05:18So yeah, that opened up much more recon and much more knowledge of what could potentially
05:26happen on the climbs in the race, just looking at all different aspects that could get thrown
05:31at me on the weekend.
05:34Thanks.
05:38Hi, Michael, it's Rachel from Brüller magazine.
05:42You spoke about how this race is so unpredictable and obviously last year your good friend
05:46Tadej Pogacar was third place behind you, and he's another big favourite for this race.
05:52How do you rate his chances?
05:53Do you think he can win?
05:55And I know this is probably a hard question to answer, but if you were him, how would
05:58you be trying to win?
05:59Yeah, it's a hard question.
06:02I don't want to give him my ideas of what I think he should do.
06:05But yeah, I mean, every race Tadej goes to, he's normally the biggest favourite.
06:11And I think, to be honest, this is probably one of the hardest races for him to win, as
06:16it's not as probably selective early on in the race that he would like personally.
06:21I think normally in this race, a lot of fast guys do get to the finish, but it's not
06:28a lot of fast guys do get to the finish, just because of the characteristics of the
06:32course.
06:33But yeah, if I had to say something to him, it's up to his team to make it as hard as
06:38possible for the rest of us to get to the finish.
06:42How exactly they do that, it's been tried multiple different ways in the past.
06:47I think with Alaphilippe and Quick-Step, they went really easy on Cipressa and then went
06:52full gas on Poggio.
06:54So there is a few different ways.
06:57You can, yeah, make it more to your liking, especially for Tadej and his style of riding.
07:04I honestly think they just need to go as hard as possible, as early as possible, and just
07:07keep going.
07:09Like he showed in, what was it, Strade Bianche this year and last year, the best way they
07:14can make it a small bunch in a very hard finish is just to make it hard early, which it doesn't
07:20really suit this course, the San Remo course.
07:24But they don't really have much other choice, to be honest.
07:28Have you noticed that it's changing, kind of the way San Remo is being raced from all
07:32of the times you've done it?
07:33Has there been any kind of key changes or shifts over the years?
07:36Yeah, it's changed massively.
07:38I think when I first did it in 2011 or 2012, when I was riding for Oscar Friere, when I
07:45was at Maranoba Bank, yeah, it was known as the sprint race, basically.
07:50All the sprinters would get over the climb, and it'd be a big bunch sprint for the first
07:55few years of my professional career anyway.
07:58And then, yeah, obviously more climbers saw that the climb is actually quite solid, and
08:03if you really want to make it really hard, it is possible.
08:06So it has changed in multiple different ways.
08:08I think really depending on who the favorite is of the race, it can change to their characteristics
08:16of how they want the race ridden, let's say.
08:18Like I said before, with Alaphilippe, when he won, the quick step made it really easy
08:22on Cipressa and then really hard on Poggio, for example.
08:25So yeah, it comes down to, I think, a lot who the favorite is on the day and who has
08:29the strongest team to ride their race that they want.
08:34And I think I've seen the race being ridden in way too many different ways to understand
08:40what's going to happen this year.
08:41So I think, yeah, that's what makes the race exciting also.
08:44It's evolved, but it's still the same race, basically.
08:47I think there was one year where also they had an extra climb before the Cipressa, I
08:53think when Matthew Goss won, which totally changed it again.
08:57So I was also a part of that, which was quite interesting.
09:01Maybe they could try that for the future, add an extra climb before Cipressa if they
09:05really want to make it more of a climber's race for Tadej, let's say.
09:11And just a final question for me, obviously, this is the first year we're seeing the
09:14women's edition of Milan-San Remo as well.
09:17Their race is only 160k.
09:21I'm just interested, from your perspective, how much do you think that that extra
09:24distance makes a difference?
09:26Like, say the men's race was like, the finale came after three hours rather than five.
09:31Like, do you think that that actually makes much of a difference from your side?
09:37Well, I mean, it's double the distance.
09:39So for us, it's basically double.
09:42So obviously, yeah, it does make a big difference.
09:45I think it suits a totally different style of rider, let's say, than 160k race.
09:51I think like you saw on the weekend with 130k race around Nice, there was no breakaway
09:58for the men. For example, just if you shorten the race like that, it's on the whole
10:03day, whereas if it's 280k, yeah, you have a breakaway and you have the normal situation
10:08of a bike race.
10:10But for the women, where do they actually start?
10:13Do they start in Genoa or?
10:16OK, so they start somewhere along the coast and then head, yeah, I mean, I think it's
10:21great. It's a great start for them.
10:23I think I don't think they need to do 300k like us, for example.
10:29But yeah, I think in the future, if they keep going with Milan-San Remo, I think they
10:35should try and head more towards Milan.
10:37I don't know how far, but I think for one race of the women's calendar, it would be
10:41interesting to see how far they can stretch the distance.
10:45And if it does change the racing, I think we won't know unless they try, unless they
10:51get the option to try. And then we can answer that question better.
10:54But I think it will change the race.
10:57How exactly, I don't really know, but it would be interesting to see this year how it
11:02goes and then maybe make it a bit longer and see how it goes next year.
11:13Hi, Michael. First of all, thank you for your time.
11:17You have a very special friendship with Dade Pogacar, so I'd like to know if and how
11:23your friendship with Dade is affecting you both as a rider and as a cyclist.
11:30Yeah, I mean, I think when I look back to when we actually met, it was actually Neil
11:38Stephens, the brother of my coach, sent me a message saying, this young kid is coming
11:44to Monaco. Are you able to show him around a little bit in Monaco?
11:47I think it was 2019 or 2020.
11:50And yeah, I think when we first met up for a ride and went training together, we sort
11:58of, yeah, there was obviously a click that we both really enjoyed.
12:03And from there, it's, yeah, I think our relationship, it's gotten stronger.
12:08But yeah, on the bike, when we're racing, obviously we talk during the race.
12:12But when it comes down to the finals, it's, yeah, there's no love lost.
12:19We need to race each other.
12:21There's no helping each other or anything.
12:24We can turn our brains off and just race for our teams and race for ourselves, which is
12:28our job. And I think that's quite special in a relationship within the peloton.
12:34You don't see this so often with guys that can really be good friends off the bike, but
12:39really push each other in the race to be better and not necessarily be a negative thing.
12:45It can be a positive thing for both of us and we can both improve from it.
12:48So I think it's all positives, which is great.
12:52I think we need more of this in sport.
12:54I think it's getting quite individual these days and a lot of, yeah, let's say not so
12:59much respect for each other in the peloton.
13:01But yeah, hopefully we can bring that respect back into the peloton and everyone can not
13:07necessarily be nice to each other, but yeah, race with a bit more respect and yeah, have
13:11more fun like we all used to when we started the sport.
13:15And that's why we do it, because we enjoy it and we love it.
13:18So I think, yeah, it's all positives.
13:23Who's next?
13:26Anybody have more questions?
13:28Yeah.
13:29Thank you for your time, Michael.
13:31So we spoke a bit about today's poker tour, but let's talk about you.
13:35So in 11th participation, you finished 6th time in the top 10 and 3rd time on the podium.
13:42Also last year you were 2nd.
13:44What is missing for you to finally win this race?
13:53Yeah, if I knew that answer, I would have won it already.
13:58But no, I mean, I think it's like I said, it's one of those races.
14:03It's really like a lottery.
14:06Yeah.
14:07After such a long race, you're on the bike for six plus hours.
14:11Any little decision is a big one and you can pay for it or it can work out.
14:16So yeah, unfortunately, I haven't been able to make the perfect decision yet in the race.
14:21I mean, last year, I think I did everything right.
14:24I just got beaten by the fastest guy in the world that not many guys can beat at the moment.
14:29So, I mean, I think I did everything right.
14:32I rode a great race.
14:34I'm proud of the way I rode last year.
14:36So, I mean, I think I just need to keep doing my thing and hopefully one day it pays off.
14:43And I mean, you see guys gambling, they attack in the final, but that doesn't pay off for them every year.
14:49So, let's see.
14:51I think maybe I need to try something different.
14:55But that's what you have to assess in the moment.
14:58Whether you have the legs to attack or to attack late in the final or to wait for the sprint.
15:04So, there's really a million scenarios going through your head on the podio of what you should actually do,
15:11where you should use your energy, which wheels you should follow, who else is in the bunch,
15:16what's happened through the race.
15:18It's like no other race, because you're so tired, you're so fatigued,
15:24and it's just been such a long day on the bike.
15:26It's all about making the right decision in that right moment.
15:29Unfortunately, I haven't been able to make that right decision yet, but hopefully this year.
15:33There are a lot of riders in this race who can win.
15:38Van Der Poel, Pogacar, maybe also Pedersen and Gunnar, who were really impressive last week.
15:44Do you consider yourself as one of the favorites this year, or do you maybe see yourself more as an outsider?
15:54It's hard to say. I think I know myself, where I'm at.
15:58But I think the race, Paris-Renis, my last race, I was there to really help my teammates.
16:04We had a more pure sprinter with Max Walscheit, and we had a GC guy with Ben O'Connor.
16:11We wanted to go full for that.
16:13I didn't really get an opportunity to show myself and to put myself as a favorite, let's say.
16:20I don't think I need to put myself as a favorite, but I know where I'm at.
16:27I'm confident where I'm at, and I know what I'm capable of doing.
16:32I think that for me is enough to get the best result possible on Saturday.
16:38I don't need people calling me a favorite or an outsider or anything.
16:42That doesn't change for me.
16:43Once I'm on the bike and racing, I know what I need to do, and I know what I can do.
16:48Thank you, Michael.
16:54Anybody else have any questions?
16:58Could I jump in again and just ask about what you recall from the finish of last year's race?
17:03Was that the one where your glasses fell off in the sprint?
17:06I imagine that's a fair bit of power going through your body for that to happen.
17:09What are your takeaways from that finish last year?
17:18I've watched it multiple times.
17:23Honestly, I've never had glasses fall off my face in a sprint before.
17:28For me, this was a new experience.
17:32When I was sprinting to the line, I really thought I was going to win.
17:38I think we're still 25 meters to go.
17:41I was still in front, and when my glasses fell, I had that lapse of concentration for a second
17:46when I knew my glasses were falling off my face.
17:49Your natural reaction is you want to grab something that's falling.
17:53I obviously didn't grab what was falling on my face, but I lost that concentration for a second.
17:59That's when Philipson was able to pass me.
18:05It's been, honestly, very difficult to swallow that result, knowing that with 25 meters to go,
18:12I was still in front and about to win my first monument, and especially a monument like Milan-San Remo.
18:22I've had to work a lot to get back to try and fight for it again this year.
18:29It hasn't been an easy process.
18:32Hopefully, that doesn't happen again this year, and I can have a more fair sprint all the way to the line
18:40without my glasses falling off.
18:43I don't think that's ever happened in cycling.
18:45Someone lost a monument because their glasses fell off.
18:48Let's not repeat that.
18:51Are you going to wear elastic around your glasses this year, just to make sure?
18:55I was about to say, take them off.
19:00No, I'm not.
19:01I think, actually, Skikkon is giving us a new pair of glasses this year,
19:04so we're getting a new set of new Skikkon glasses.
19:08I think Lucy can probably answer that question, but no, we're getting a new pair of glasses,
19:13so hopefully it doesn't happen.
19:16Can I just ask one more question about the kind of team you've got around you for the race
19:21and what you'll be asking of them?
19:23Obviously, you've got Luke Plapp on the team as well, who can perform pretty well on punchy climbs.
19:28What are you going to be asking of your teammates, and how do you think they're going to support you?
19:35I think we've got a good, strong team, maybe, for the run into the climb.
19:41I have Patrick Gamper.
19:47...guys to position over the Kappas and then into the Cipressa,
19:52and then a couple of guys with Felix, with DiPretto, with Zana and Mauro
20:00to get through, hopefully, the Cipressa and position into the podio.
20:06It would be great if we can have at least one of those guys up the podio
20:10to support me as long as they can.
20:13I think we have a great team.
20:15Probably one of the strongest teams I've had around me in a Milan-San Remo so far,
20:20so I'm really confident and happy about that, that the team has given me
20:25such strong guys to be around me.
20:28I don't think Plapp is riding, if I'm correct.
20:31Sorry, I was looking up the wrong star list.
20:34No worries.
20:35I think it's not really a race for Plapp.
20:37He rode last year pretty much the whole final.
20:41I think he got the KOM on Cipressa, but it didn't help the team much.
20:48Having that group around me, I think it's the strongest team I've personally had
20:53to surround me in a San Remo, so I'm really happy and confident in the guys
20:59that they can do the best job possible to make the race as easy as possible
21:03for me to do my thing in the final.
21:09Michael, hi. It's Alex from L'Equipe.
21:12Can you hear me?
21:14Yeah.
21:16Just a question about the Cipressa.
21:18Everybody's speaking about a super-fast Cipressa on Saturday.
21:22Did you do any special preparation yourself to handle that,
21:27if it's very, very fast?
21:30Yeah.
21:31I'm actually going tomorrow to do my final session.
21:35But yeah, I think over the winter I've done a lot of work to make sure
21:40I'm ready for anything that gets thrown at me, let's say.
21:43I think we all know what is probably going to happen with UAE,
21:49but yeah, I've done the preparation for it.
21:53And yeah, I think all going to plan, it shouldn't be a big issue for me
21:59to get over with the group and then get to Poggio.
22:03So everything going to plan, it should be okay.
22:08But yeah, we can expect a very fast Super Cipressa, that's for sure.
22:13I've got another lighter question.
22:15Is Thursday driving you to Milano this year again,
22:18or is he fed up of you beating him on the Viaroma?
22:24No, we have different plans this year.
22:26I'm actually going to catch the train.
22:28I think Tadej left today already to do some recon or something.
22:34So I'm going to catch the train and the team's going to pick me up
22:39from the train station in Milan this year.
22:41So that'll be fun.
22:43I haven't caught a train to a race in a while,
22:45so that should be a nice experience.
22:47But no, no fairy tale story like last year,
22:51when we went together and we shared the podium.
22:55Unfortunately, not the story this year.
22:57But yeah, let's see what happens in San Remo.
23:05Okay, Michael, last question maybe for me.
23:07You won stages on Tour de France, Volta, Giro.
23:11You won also on Paris Nice.
23:13You won some Volta Classic, like in Canada.
23:17Will you say that winning a monument,
23:19and probably Milan-San Remo is the monument you're more likely to win,
23:23will you say that winning Milan-San Remo is maybe the last big goal of your career?
23:32Yeah, I think it's been a goal for my career, my whole career.
23:36Yeah, coming so close, it's been difficult to swallow.
23:40But yeah, I'm not going to give up until I get it.
23:44I wouldn't say it's the last goal of my career.
23:46I think I still have a lot of other big goals, like a Tour of Flanders.
23:52I think it's a big one that I really want to do well in again,
23:55like I did last year.
23:57Also, Amstel Gold is something I still dream about to win in my career.
24:04And this year, with the finish changing back to the old school finish,
24:08I think it suits me a lot better than the finish we have now.
24:11So I think, yeah, there's still a lot of goals along the way.
24:14I'm definitely not done yet.
24:16Hopefully I can continue riding another few years.
24:19And I think with the form I have at the moment, it only seems to be getting better.
24:25So hopefully I can continue my journey in cycling
24:28and tick off more goals along the way that I still dream about going to bed every night.