Michael Matthews eyes tilt at pink jersey on opening weekend of Giro d’Italia

PLOUAY FRANCE AUGUST 25 Arrival Michael Matthews of Australia and Team Sunweb Celebration during the 84th Bretagne Classic OuestFrance 2020 a 2478km race from Plouay to Plouay GrandPrixPlouay GPPlouay on August 25 2020 in Plouay France Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

It’s not quite the last dance of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, but the Giro d’Italia brings the curtain down on an era at Team Sunweb, with Michael Matthews, Wilco Kelderman and Sam Oomen all lining out in their final race for the team before they depart for pastures new in 2021.

Matthews’ omission from Team Sunweb’s Tour de France squad precipitated his departure from the team a year ahead of the expiration of his contract but he has shown no signs of simply running down the clock ahead of his return to Mitchelton-Scott next season.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.