Team Giant-Alpecin is pleased to confirm Michael Matthews (AUS) as its first signing for the 2017 season, which represents another step forward for the team in its continuous pursuit of improvement and growth. The 25-year-old will join the team on a three-year contract after a four-year spell at Orica-BikeExchange.
In the versatile and talented Matthews, the team has found a world-class rider with the ability to focus on results on a variety of terrain and in the classics, stage races and Grand Tours. The team is confident that Matthews has significant potential for further growth. The team believes that through its “Keep Challenging” philosophy, it will be able to help him progress and fulfill his full potential.
Matthews has already achieved some impressive results, with 25 pro wins to date. His best results at the highest pro level include stage wins in all three Grand Tours: three stages at the Vuelta a España, two at the Giro d’Italia and one at the Tour de France. This year he won stage 10 of the Tour and took three stage wins at Paris-Nice, including the victory at the prologue, where he was slightly faster than Tom Dumoulin (NED). He finished second at the most recent world road championships, and he has also finished on the podium at Milan–San Remo, Amstel Gold Race and Brabantse Pijl.
Matthews said: “I am very happy with my transfer to Team Giant-Alpecin. I have always admired the way the team approaches the sport as a team sport; the stronger and the better we can have the team as a collective operate and perform, the better the opportunities for success the leaders have for the finales of races. I am confident that I will be able to get the best out of myself both as a rider and as an individual. The team is already used to working for dedicated leaders in various types of races and has proven that strategy with great results in the biggest races on the calendar. That’s the process which I want to help strengthen and where I want to be a part of and contribute to, and I am very much looking forward to joining the team.”
“We are extremely happy and proud to sign a rider like Michael,” said Team Giant-Alpecin CEO Iwan Spekenbrink (NED). “We have always set our standards high and been very ambitious with our objectives. Michael is a very talented rider and we are pleased that he has recognized the value of our approach to help him continue his development as a rider. Michael has the character and the will to integrate well with the team, and we are looking forward to working closely with him the next years.”
