Matthews magnificent

Green dream has cycling experts singing high praises

MICHAEL Matthews’s brilliant Tour de France has many singing his praises. And rightly so. He is only the third Australian to win the green sprinters jersey and although he did have a bit of luck fall his way when firstly red-hot favourite Peter Sagan was booted off the race and then super sprinter Marcel Kittel crashed out, his two stage wins were pure class.

We can only guess what Sagan would have done as he has dominated this competition for the past four years, but I reckon Matthews had Kittel’s measure and I’m confident Matthews would have run him down.

Stuart O’Grady is a pretty good judge when it comes to assessing the best sprinters.

O’Grady finished second three times to the great Erik Zabel and wore the green jersey into Paris only to lose it in the final sprint.

“Michael Matthews is just getting better as he matures,” o’Grady said.

“I think he could become Australia’s best cyclist over the next few years and there are no limits to just where he will go.”

Orica Scott sports director Matt White went further, saying he believes Matthews could actually morph into a rider capable of challenging for a grand tour win.

He would have to improve a lot in the big mountains but former VIS coach Dave Sanders, who has nurtured many of our great champions over the years, said that he believes that Matthews is the greatest natural talent he has ever seen.

Now that is a huge statement because Sanders had a lot to do with Cadel Evans, who I believe is our greatest ever cyclist.

This has been a fascinating Tour de France with the final podium undecided until the time trial on Saturday.

Chris Froome did look vulnerable in the middle week but just got stronger as the tour progressed.

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone as physically wasted as Romain Bardet when he collapsed at the finish line of the time trial. He managed to hold his spot on the podium by less than one second, but he was the rider that did look the biggest threat to Froome.

I like the way he attacks and along with Irishman Dan Martin always takes the race on with his aggressive style.

I really enjoyed the battle for the white jersey of leading young rider.

Orica Scott’s Simon Yates had a fantastic battle with South African Louis Meintjes, who ironically finished second to Simon’s twin brother Adam in last year’s tour.