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Australian cyclist Michael Matthews remains confident he can snatch a second Tour of Spain stage win this year, despite being edged out in a sprint finish for the second time this tour.
Matthews nearly timed his run to perfection for the 190.7km stage 17 ride from Ortigeira to La Coruna, but came up just short to Germany’s sprint specialist John Degenkolb, who claimed his fourth stage victory.
The Orica GreenEDGE rider, who won the third stage of the tour to briefly claim the leader’s red jersey, was controversially beaten to the line on the eighth stage – where he was pipped in a tense finish by France’s Nacer Bouhanni, who appeared to cut across the 23-year-old.
But Matthews has targeted two of the remaining stages of the tour, which finishes with a 9.7km time-trial in Santiago de Compostella on Sunday, to land a second win.
He also felt there was not much more he could’ve done to have stolen victory on Wednesday.
“I played my cards on following Degenkolb. In the end it was the right move to follow him because he obviously won the race,” he said.
“In the final kilometre there was no real lead out trains anymore, just guys attacking from left to right.
“I was as close as I could have been so its one of those situations coming off for second that is not so bad.
“There are still another two stages that suit me in this Vuelta so we will keep fighting for that second stage win.”
Orica-GreenEDGE sport director Neil Stephens was proud of Matthews’ effort, but conceded Degenkolb was simply the superior rider on the day.
“By (the final turn) Michael was riding really well and (was) super confident,” Stephens said.
“He got on Degenkolb’s wheel and in the rush to the line was just beaten by a better man.
“We will look back on it later on, but I’m not too sure there was a way to alter that result.”
The 25-year-old Degenkolb’s victory – which sees him move to within one of the total he won on the 2012 edition – didn’t affect the overall standings as two-time champion Alberto Contador will again don the red jersey for Thursday’s 18th stage.
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