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Stage three is one that Australia’s only stage winner from last year’s Tour, Michael Matthews, has set his sights on. The climb at the finish suits his strengths. What can we expect from the Sunweb rider in Longwy?

 

 

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“It suits me better than other stages so I have to be confident,” said Michael Matthews 25 minutes before the start of stage three. “We’ll wait and see what happens.”

Inside the final kilometres, there’s a ramp that is likely to see an interesting mix of riders battling it out for line honours. Powerful riders like Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Philippe Gilbert and Michael Matthews could possibly be racing head to head with GC specialists in Longwy.

“Of course we have one of the favourites for today’s finish,” said Matthews’ compatriot and team trainer/directeur sportif, Luke Roberts. “I think there can be enough teams still to have interest in a bunch sprint finish – or to bring it to a bunch sprint… but it’s a really tough last two kilometres.

“I think Michael is in good form and it is a really good chance for him today.”

Matthews was 16th in the time trial and ninth in yesterday’s sprint, putting him in 15th overall, 20” behind Geraint Thomas.

The original plan was to limit the losses as much as possible and perhaps use the hill in Longwy to launch a bid not only for the win but for time bonuses and perhaps a stint in the yellow jersey.

“Unfortunately the gaps after [stage one] are a little bit bigger than I hoped for,” said Roberts, “so the yellow may be out of reach but if he can take the stage win, it puts him in a good situation…

“The possibility is there but I see it pretty slim for the yellow jersey.”

When Matthews wore the leader’s jersey in the Giro d’Italia in 2014, he won a tough stage ahead of Tim Wellens and Cadel Evans at the top of a steep hill in Montecassino. He knows how to perform when the pressure is on – and although his team has high hopes, he didn’t appear at all stressed in Vervier earlier today.

He knows there’s a hill but he’s not ridden it before. “I’ve seen the video,” he explained. “Luke did a recon last week so we know what we’re in for but I haven’t ridden it so I don’t know the feel of the climb.”

 

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Luke Roberts is one of the directors sportif for Sunweb at the Tour in 2017.

 

Photo: Rob Arnold

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Stage 2 with disc brakes…

Matthews was one of the riders to opt for disc brakes in stage two. And he’s glad he did.

“I think I was pretty lucky with that, that I had the disc brakes and I think throughout the race it was really nice. I felt super safe on the bike. I never felt like I was in any danger.

“I was super happy, especially in the wet,” said Matthews.

“When there was that crash at the front of the bunch, I was the last guy that didn’t crash when we went into that corner.

“I just had better braking and I think guys who had the normal brakes, they panicked and braked too hard and then the brakes don’t work and then they grab – if you have the normal brakes, but if you have the disc brakes they’re always working so you can slow down easier.”

The disc brakes are on Giant’s Propel frame but today Matthews is riding the TCR, with traditional rim brakes.

“The Propel is an aerodynamic frame, an aero bike, and the TCR a lighter version,” Roberts told RIDE earlier today.

“With the finish as it is today, as we want to save every gram possible and keep him right on the weight limit. And the disc brakes won’t play such an important role today. Also, with the weather the way it is, the ultimate factor is getting up this climb at the finish so we chose the TCR for today.”

 

 

– By Rob Arnold

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