The symbolism was significant. Following the 16th stage of the 2017 Tour de France, once he had completed the presentation and media commitments that are imposed upon each day’s victor, Michael Matthews embraced Robbie McEwen.
The former is next in line to the throne long held by the latter, the best sprinter Australia has produced. After collecting line honours and maximum sprint points on a windy stage to Romans-sur-Isère, Matthews is within striking distance of the green sprinter’s jersey won three times by the now-retired McEwen.
Matthews has admitted he reached out to McEwen before the 104th edition of the Tour, and an air of mentorship surrounded the encounter. After seeing the 26-year-old reduce rival Marcel Kittel’s sprint classification lead by nearly 100 points in just three stages, McEwen can be confident that the future of Australian sprinting is in good hands.
On Tuesday Matthews’ Team Sunweb clinically executed the strategy devised by sports director Luke Roberts, an Australian who twice rode the Tour. Sunweb attacked early and often, causing the peloton to split with green jersey wearer Kittel left behind. Matthews was untroubled for the intermediate sprint, before hanging on against fast-finishing Edvald Boasson Hagen to secure the stage result. “Luke has had the game plan set perfectly over these last few days,” Matthews commented afterwards.
Yet Matthews’ victory was tarnished by an altercation with Germany’s John Degenkolb following the stage. Degenkolb reportedly lodged a complaint, alleging he had been cut off by Matthews in the closing moments of the sprint finish, but first landed a right-hand jab on the Australian while they remained on their bikes.
“We were waiting for the official result and he grabbed me on the way past,” offered Matthews diplomatically. “The officials saw that. I am not sure what they are going to do about it but I do not think it is very sportsmanlike.” Matthews and Degenkolb have been rivals throughout their careers – the former beat the latter to the Under-23 world road title in 2010, while Degenkolb triumphed over Matthews at the 2015 Milan-San Remo – adding extra spice to the fracas.
But a slap will hardly quell Team Sunweb’s jubilation. The German-registered outfit already have one team member, Warren Barguil, with a practically unassailable lead in the King of the Mountains jersey, while another edges closer to the green jersey. Matthews is now just 29 points from Kittel with five stages remaining.
A week is a long time in cycling. Just six days ago, Matthews was left “devastated” following a disappointing 13th place finish in Bergerac as Kittel won yet another stage. He spent minutes bent over his bike in anguish, and appeared to wipe away a tear before facing the media. The green jersey incumbent’s lead was growing by the day, and Matthews hinted that the points difference was insurmountable.
After two stage wins in four days – and it might have been three if not for an ill-timed toilet break – Matthews looks unstoppable. He “attacked like a maniac” on Tuesday, and has demonstrated impressive climbing legs over the past week. With several difficult days in the Alps ahead, where Kittel will almost certainly struggle, the sprinter’s jersey race is very much alive.
On Wednesday, Matthews will prioritise the 20 intermediate sprint points available following the first climb, before preserving as much energy as possible during a tortuous mountain stage. Kittel’s Quick-Step Floors colleagues, meanwhile, will battle to ensure their sprinter arrives before the time cut, failing which Matthews would be immediately elevated into green.
Thursday should play out similarly, with three categorised ascents, while Friday’s stage 19 also has enough climbing to bother Kittel. With neither rider likely to collect points at the penultimate stage individual time trial, the maillot vert could be decided by a final showdown on the streets of Paris.
