"Michael Matthews shares his feelings of struggling like a diver underwater, recalling his journey from health issues midway through the year to magnetizing motivation for the World Championships in Rwanda"
Michael Matthews, the Australian cycling star, recently faced a significant setback mid-season when he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. The health scare occurred during an altitude training camp in Italy, where Matthews felt as though he was trying to breathe underwater. Initially, he thought it was just allergies.
However, a scan of his lungs revealed blood clots, forcing Matthews to stop training on the advice of his coach. Even a simple walk through the surrounding town left him with an elevated heart rate. The serious condition left Matthews fearing for his life and missing out on the Tour de France.
Despite the setback, Matthews showed resilience and made a comeback by July. He recently competed in the Bretagne Classic at the end of August and finished eighth. The changed season, without races like the Tour de France and Tour de Suisse, allowed him to focus on the World Championships.
Matthews will be participating in the UCI Road World Championships as part of a team that will support Jai Hindley. Australia aims to defend the mixed team time trial title at the event, which is expected to take place from September 15-28. Matthews has a strong record at the World Championships, having attended every edition since 2012, with the exception of 2018 when he wasn't selected for the Australian team.
Matthews has also had success in North American one-day events. He has won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec three times and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal once. He plans to participate in the Maryland Classic on September 6, Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec on September 12, and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on September 14 before heading to the World Championships in Rwanda.
The team Jayco-AlUla announced that Matthews would refrain from racing to protect his health and well-being. Matthews expressed his enthusiasm for the World Championships, stating, "I love being around all the Aussies and obviously representing Australia."
Subscribing to Cyclingnews provides unlimited access to coverage of the first-ever UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda. Matthews, who has attended every Road World Championships since 2012, will be accompanied by the Australian national team at the event.
Despite the health scare, Matthews remains optimistic about his future in cycling. His return to competition is a testament to his determination and love for the sport. As the World Championships approach, cycling fans worldwide will be eager to see Matthews back in action.
