Michael Matthews poised to leave Orica-BikeExchange

STAR sprinter Michael Matthews is poised to leave Orica-BikeExchange as the emerging Australian team signed gun Czech rider Roman Kreuziger.

STAR sprinter Michael Matthews is poised to leave Orica-BikeExchange as the rapidly emerging Australian team signed gun Czech rider Roman Kreuziger.

Matthews, 25, is rumoured to be on the verge of signing with German outfit Giant-Alpecin, which expects to lose John Degenkolb to Trek-Segafredo.

Winner of stages on all three grand tours, as well as wearing the leader’s jersey in both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta, Matthews on Sunday finished third in the RideLondon Classic.

Runner-up at the world championships last year, Matthews underlined quality and talent with a brilliant victory on the 10th stage of last month’s Tour de France — his sixth individual grand tour spoil, and eighth overall.

If Matthews departs, Orica-BikeExchange will rely more on Caleb Ewan to contend for sprint honours.

Michael Matthews is rumoured to heading to German outfit Giant-Alpecin.

The signing of Kreuziger was hailed as “game-changing” by team director Matt White as world champion Peter Sagan transferred from Tinkoff to German outfit Bora-Hansgrohe.

Kreuziger, 30, has signed a two-year deal which boosts Orica’s grand tour general classification potential.

The Czech rider finished 10th at the Tour de France after his team leader Alberto Contador was forced to abandon at the end of the first week.

“Orica-BikeExchange was an easy choice for me when I started to consider my next team and my future as a rider,” Kreuziger said.

“I really admire the ambitions they have going onwards, and I want to fully apply myself to help their young riders go for the ultimate success in the Grand Tours.”

Orica has increasingly strengthened its grand tour stocks with the emergence of Esteban Chaves and British twins Adam and Simon Yates.

Chaves finished second at the Giro, while Adam Yates won the Tour de France’s best young rider category while finishing fourth overall.

Roman Kreuziger will bring plenty of experience to Orica-BikeExchange.

“Roman is a real game-changing signing for us,” White said.

“He is not only one of the classiest and strongest riders at WorldTour level, but he also brings a wealth of experience having worked for the best GC riders in the world.

“He will be one of the riders who can make the difference for our young riders at the Tour de France in the attempt to go for the podium.

“And at the same time he’s proved that he can win himself in both the Classics and other WorldTour stage races.

“We are rapidly developing into a team with real depth throughout the calendar, including in all three Grand Tours. Roman’s inclusion in our roster will be key in the years to come.”

Often used as domestique for Contador, Kreuziger has four top-10 finishes at the Tour, crowned by fifth place in 2013.

He also boasts victories in Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and the Amstel Gold Race.

Kreuziger’s signing follows that of Spanish climber Carlos Verona, who joins from Etixx-Quick-Step.

Originally published as Michael Matthews poised to leave Orica-BikeExchange