Orica-GreenEDGE eyes Tour de France redemption on back of key Australian rider Michael Matthews

GUN Aussie cyclist Michael Matthews will spearhead Orica-GreenEDGE’s Tour de France campaign as it seeks to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 effort.

Michael Matthews will spearhead Orica-GreenEDGE’s Tour de France hopes. Picture: AP

MICHAEL Matthews has been confirmed as a key part of Orica-GreenEDGE’s Tour de France campaign.

Both rider and team will be hoping for a change of luck in the three-week, 3535km marathon, which starts in Manche in Normandy on Saturday.

Matthews, 25, who has been negotiating with a number of teams, in particular the German outfit Giant-Alpecin, fractured his ribs on day two of last year’s Tour, which was a disaster for the team with several other riders also being injured.

Michael Matthews play a key role in Orica-GreenEDGE’s Tour de France hopes. Picture: AP

But he pushed on through the pain barrier as the depleted team, down from nine riders to six, battled on to seven top 10 results.

Later in the year, Matthews was runner-up at the world championships, complaining afterwards that senior teammate Simon Gerrans had raced against him rather than helping him try to win.

.@blingmatthews of @ORICA_GreenEDGE arrives at the UCI Cycling Gala #PhotoOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/oJ9Tnv597G

— Abu Dhabi Tour (@Abu_Dhabi_Tour) June 25, 2016

Both have since said there is no lingering rift and they will again share the responsibility — and team protection — for stage wins, along with British rider Adam Yates.

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The Australian flag-bearer will again have a minority of Australian riders, with Gerrans and Matthews joined by road captain Mathew Hayman, winner of the Paris-Roubaix classic earlier this year, and workhorse Luke Durbridge.

Matthews has his sights set on tour success. Picture: Getty Images

With Yates, South African Daryl Impey, Swiss veteran Michael Albasini, Spain’s Ruben Plaza and Denmark’s Chris Juul Jensen will complete an experienced, versatile squad.

“It gives us an exciting mix of options,” sports director Matt White said.

“Our objective is to target stage wins and we will be approaching every day like it’s a classic.

“We have a robust, versatile roster that can cope with the big effort required to compete and win.”

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Originally published as Orica-GreenEDGE eyes Tour de France redemption on back of key Australian rider Michael Matthews