Looking back, he acknowledged that a different approach could have been interesting. “It might have been worth trying a more patient tactic to see how I’d hold up without attacking early, but I’m very happy with my result and the sensations I felt. I’m on the right path to returning to my level after the health problems I had. It’s just a pity the season is already ending.”
From fearing for his life to fighting again
Asked about those dark weeks in June, Matthews did not hide how close he came to despair. “It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I had just finished a three-week training camp and was technically ready for the Tour when this problem appeared. Having worked so hard toward a goal and being stopped by a medical diagnosis was devastating, also because I didn’t know what the long-term consequences would be. I had no idea if I would ever ride again, or even if I would survive. No one could tell me what the next steps would be, either for my career or for my life.”
Once the doctors identified the issue and began treatment, everything shifted. “When I realized I was going to be okay and that I wasn’t going to die, I immediately wanted to understand what I had to do to return to my previous level on the bike,” he said. “In those moments, I realized how much I love this sport and how much I enjoy my job as a professional cyclist.”
The fear of losing it all turned into fuel. “The idea of losing everything because of health problems motivated me even more to come back stronger and hungrier to win again,” he admitted. “There were days when I felt lost and didn’t know where I stood physically, but thanks to my wife and my family I managed to stay mentally clear.”
Michael Matthews won the World Championships mixed relay team time trial in September
Matthews described the following months as the most difficult of his life. “I was depressed. I asked myself if life was over. It was four very tumultuous months, but I’m here now, and thanks to my current form and results, I’m proud of what I’m doing. I try to see the positive side and think I’ve managed to overcome a very difficult situation. I came out of it smiling, with legs that still let me fight with the best in the world.”
“The hardest part was finding consistency,” he said. “At Plouay [Bretagne Classic], I already performed well despite not racing for months and almost managed to get on the podium in such a tough race. That’s when I knew I could do it again. But mentally it wasn’t easy to deal with poor performances in the following races. Luckily, after the World Championships, during the Italian races I found continuity and recovered better between events.”
That consistency, he believes, is now the key to the future, and he still thinks he has what it takes to win a monument before retiring. “The dream is still Milan–Sanremo, but now I’m ten times more motivated than before. My career could have ended this year due to health or mental problems after the forced stop, so having overcome those obstacles makes me believe in myself again. In the Italian races I had a clearer head than ever, and even the doctors say I have the body of a 25-year-old. Hearing that at 35 isn’t bad.”
A veteran in a new generation’s era
Reflecting on cycling’s evolution, Matthews smiled. “My career spans several generations. I started during the Boonen era, faced Sagan in the middle, and now I’m racing in Tadej’s era. Unfortunately, I’ve crossed paths with some of these aliens who can do stellar things on a bike. I try to do my best and I’m proud of how I’ve adapted to different styles of racing over time.”
A Monument victory still eludes him, but the hunger remains. “I still miss that seal of victory in a Monument or a big Classic, which I’ve come close to several times. Next year the Tour de France starts with a team time trial, so my experience can also be useful there. For now, I’m enjoying every second and the fact that I’m back to being the Michael of old. I just want to keep having fun.”
Looking back, Matthews believes his near-death experience may have given him a new lease on life. “I think it probably did extend my career. It made me realize what I have and appreciate every single opportunity that comes my way,” he concluded.