Michael Matthews's first Tour win was three years in the making

Orica-BikeExchange rider dedicates Tour de France stage win to his dog Geegee - and his wife - after almost giving up on the race

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

In Andorra on the first rest day Michael Matthews was ready to give up on the Tour de France. The 25-year-old Australian has enjoyed success in both the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, but the Tour just wasn't happening for him.

In 2014 he crashed in training on the Tuesday morning before travelling to Yorkshire. Although he flew to the UK, and even went on stage at the team presentation in Leeds on the Thursday night, he eventually decided his injuries were too severe on the Friday morning and pulled out.

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Simon Richardson
Magazine editor

Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.