Matthews questions ‘teamwork across national borders’ after emotional Worlds silver

The Australian, who turned 36 on Saturday, has had to overcome a number of serious setbacks in recent seasons that threatened to end his professional career, including a pulmonary embolism in 2025, before breaking both his arms, among other injuries, in a serious training crash back in March. 

“I mean what I've been through the last two years with embolia in my lungs, thinking my career was done, to breaking both my arms at the start of this year, thinking my career was done, and now bouncing back to being second in the Worlds road race, I'm just speechless, honestly," Matthews told Eurosport.

Matthews explained how determined he was to produce a ride that he could be proud of, and he delivered in spades, winning the sprint for silver behind solo winner Brandon McNulty.

“I said to my wife at the start of today, let's just leave it all out there and be proud of the ride at the end of the day,” he said. “Make sure you finish with nothing left, and it's exactly what happened today when I crossed the finish line.

“When I crossed the finish line, I put my head in my hands and was almost in disbelief at what just happened.”

He credited the support of his wife, family and support network throughout the difficult moments, when he was most vulnerable after his training crash.

"She was there every second of the day, helping me get dressed, keeping me motivated that big things were still coming in my career,” he said. 

“She's standing over there right now supporting me all through this, so I can't thank her enough for everything she's done. She knows it. It's as much her silver medal as it is mine.”

Having made his debut in the elite men’s road race back in 2012, Sunday marked Matthews’ 14th appearance, his sixth top-10 finish, and fourth medal. 

At 36 years of age and with an Alpine edition of the Worlds looming in 2027, he admitted that this could have been his final opportunity to become world champion. However, Matthews had no regrets after his stellar performance. 

“I think this was probably my last opportunity to be a world champion,” he said. "Obviously mixed feelings, but at the same time, I have to be proud of the way I've bounced back.

“To be second around here on a circuit that many said was out of my reach, to show everyone that I'm still up there with the best in the world, even after what I've been through, at the moment feels like a win.”

“I think what I've been through, what my whole family's been through, to be here right now, honestly, whether I'm first or second, honestly, it feels like a win.”

While Matthews was overwhelmingly positive about his silver medal, he also felt there may have been an opportunity for the chasing group to bring McNulty back in the final lap.

Speaking to Sporza after the race, Matthews suggested that cooperation between riders from the same trade teams, despite racing for different nations, had influenced the chase.

“There was a little bit of teamwork between certain riders,” he said.

Matthews did not name any riders directly, but his comments appeared to point towards the dynamic surrounding UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates McNulty and Isaac del Toro, with the Mexican part of the group trying to close down the American.

“They were riding a little bit together,” Matthews said. “If fewer teams had ridden together across national borders, then we would have caught him. It is what it is.”

The chase had moved to within touching distance of McNulty during the final lap, before the cooperation behind began to break down and riders started looking at one another.

That ultimately allowed McNulty to hold on for the world title, while Matthews beat Mathieu van der Poel in the sprint for silver.