Michael Matthews in box seat to deliver Australia’s third victory in Milan-San Remo

CANBERRA’S Michael Matthews will attempt to deliver Australia’s third victory in the Milan-San Remo, cycling’s first “monument” of the season.

Australia's Michael Matthews rides during the sixth stage of the 74th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race between Nice and La Madone d'Utelle on March 12, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

CANBERRA’S Michael Matthews will attempt to deliver Australia’s third victory in the Milan-San Remo, cycling’s first “monument” of the season.

A narrow second last year, Orica-GreenEDGE’s Matthews will be one of the favourites for overall honours after winning two stage wins in the Paris-Nice last week.

The 25-year-old is bidding to emulate the San Remo-Milan victories of Tasmanian Matt Goss (2011) and Victorian Simon Gerrans (2012).

Michael Matthews during last week’s Paris-Nice.

The longest one-day race in the world at 298km, “La Primavera” winds through northern Italy from Milan to San Remo on the Ligurian coast.

Matthews is confident of building on a strong Paris-Nice.

“I’m looking forward to the race, I hope I can be up there at the finish,” Matthews said, after leading Paris-Nice for six days and winning the points classification.

“If we can get in a good position on the climbs and maintain it, then anything can happen.”

OGE will support Matthews with Michael Albasini, Sam Bewley, Daryl Impey, Chris Juul-Jensen, Jens Keukeleire, Luka Mezgec and Simon Yates.

“The team we have assembled for the weekend has had good preparation for the period of racing that we are heading into,” sports director Matt White said.

“Milan-San Remo is a race where a lot can happen in the last 30 minutes. The key moments will be the lead into the Cipressa climb, followed by the descent of the Poggio.

“This race has a big place in the history of the team after Simon (Gerrans) won here in 2012. We will definitely be looking to continue in that vein at the weekend.”

Defending champion John Degenkolb will miss the race as he continues to recover from a training accident.

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), the 2014 winner, world champion Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing), Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) are among the many contenders for overall success.