Michael Matthews – Good memories, cooler weather and a plan to win at debut Cadel Evans Road Race

Michael Matthews before the 2023 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Michael Matthews before the 2023 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (Image credit: Getty Images)

Michael Matthews may not have ridden the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race before, but that doesn't mean he isn't coming into the race with good memories and high hopes. 

Geelong, and the challenging Challambra Crescent climb, which is a key feature of Sunday’s 176km race, were where he netted one of his biggest early career triumphs in 2010 when he took the U23 men's world title.

Simone Giuliani
Australia Editor

Simone is a degree-qualified journalist that has accumulated decades of wide-ranging experience while working across a variety of leading media organisations. She joined Cyclingnews as a Production Editor at the start of the 2021 season and has now moved into the role of Australia Editor. Previously she worked as a freelance writer, Australian Editor at Ella CyclingTips and as a correspondent for Reuters and Bloomberg. Cycling was initially purely a leisure pursuit for Simone, who started out as a business journalist, but in 2015 her career focus also shifted to the sport.