Michael Matthews has extended his contract with Jayco AlUla through 2027. Despite a challenging season due to a pulmonary embolism, the 35-year-old sprinter will continue racing for at least another two years with his Australian team.
“I’m super happy. I think that after the issues I had this summer, I’ve come to appreciate the team, my life, and everything even more. Just like in the past years I’ve experienced in cycling. I still feel like I’m 25, so I’m excited to continue this journey with Team Jayco AlUla and my own cycling career,” Matthews told his employer.
Pulmonary embolism
Matthews had to miss a large part of his season because of a pulmonary embolism. “The doctor said that if I had trained for two or three more days, I would have died. The blood clots would have traveled to my brain, and it would have been the end,” the Australian openly shared after defending the mixed relay world title in Kigali together with his compatriots.
After a tough summer, Matthews was able to race again. For now, he has no plans to stop. “I really feel like I’m getting better and better, so I’m looking forward to spending another two years with the team and seeing what we can achieve together. Hopefully, I can reach the goals I’ve always strived for in my career alongside the team. I’m just really excited to see what the next two years bring and to enjoy every moment.”
Financial Concerns
In recent weeks, there were worries about the survival of Jayco AlUla. The men's and women's teams of the Australian outfit were missing from the provisional list of license applications published by the UCI last October. This was because the Aussies did not have the required bank guarantees. Team manager Brent Copeland was able to relieve riders and staff last Thursday by confirming that the issues have been resolved.
Michael Matthews| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2027 | |
| 2026 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 |
