Michael Matthews to miss Tour de France after pulmonary embolism scare

Michael Matthews has been withdrawn from all racing after medical staff at Jayco AlUla discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism during an altitude camp.

Matthews’s condition is currently stable, but the team has confirmed that he will miss the upcoming Tour de France while undergoing further medical assistance.

"The medical team is conducting thorough investigations to assess the extent and possible causes of the issue to establish a safe recovery process for the athlete," the team stated in a medical update.

Matthews will cease all racing until further notice as team doctors work to determine the severity of his condition and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

The team emphasised that Matthews' health remains their primary concern. "During this investigative period, Matthews will refrain from participating in any competitions to ensure his health and well-being are not compromised," the statement continued.

Matthews was expected to be a key rider for the Australian team at the upcoming Tour de France, having been a four-time stage winner in eight participations and a former points classification winner at the race in 2017. Matthews also won the last race he started, which was Eschborn-Frankfurt, a German one-day UCI WorldTour-level race, illustrating that he is still one of the best in the business.