U23 world champion Matthews aiming for Noosa victory

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With the Under 23 world championship title in the bag, Michael Matthews is now aiming to join a list of big name winners at this weekend’s Noosa Criterium in Queensland, Australia. Matthews wants to join the winner roll that includes Commonwealth Games road race champion Allan Davis and former Tour de France green jersey Robbie McEwen.

“I’ve watched these guys on television since I started cycling,” said Matthews of his motivation to win Noosa. “It’s going to be a hard race as I had a little break after the Commonwealth Games so I’m not sure how I’ll be going.”

The Rabobank-bound Matthews said another victory wearing Jayco-Skins colours will help reward the team’s sponsors for everything they’ve done for him. “It’s always very important to end the season on a high note because it gets you more motivated for next year and now that I have won the world championships I know 2011 is going to be a great year,” Matthews said.

“It means a lot to me every time I put on the Jayco Skins jersey because I would not be where I am now without all of the support not just from the sponsors but from the coaches, who are there every day just for us, our massage therapist and all the other support people making our lives so easy,” he added.

Matthews will have the support of Jayco-Skins teammate Michael Hepburn at the race, which is held as a support event during the Noosa Triathlon weekend. Other riders confirmed for the criterium include Garmin-Transitions’ Jack Bobridge, Team Sky’s Chris Sutton and Fly V Australia’s Jonathan Cantwell, Aaron Kemps and Ben Kersten.