Matthews defends the UAE: "If you have the resources, why not use them?"

Australian veteran Michael Matthews has publicly defended UAE Team Emirates-XRG and its aggressive stage-chasing strategy at the 2026 Tour de France , dismissing criticism that Tadej Pogačar's team was simply managing the yellow jersey without controlling every breakaway.

UAE surprised everyone as early as stage nine, when they tightly controlled a breakaway without any GC riders, only to repeat the same tactic even more effectively on stage ten: the leading group was absorbed mid-race, paving the way for Pogačar's victory. It was a show of strength that sparked controversy, but one that Matthews, his teammate on the tour despite wearing the Jayco-AlUla jersey, defends unhesitatingly.

Matthews is having an uphill Tour, at least so far. The Australian's spring was devastated by a bad crash in training that caused him to fracture both wrists , forcing him to miss weeks of racing. He returned at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and then the Tour de Suisse, but his condition is still not at its peak. Now he's aiming for his fifth stage victory at the Tour, following those in 2016, 2017, and 2022.

The 35-year-old doesn't hide the difficulty of the moment: "From where I was to where I am now is already a blessing, but when you're here, you always want more," Matthews admitted. "I've worked so hard to get back to fitness, so I hope I have the chance to reap the rewards of all that hard work. It's been an up-and-down Tour so far, but there are still many stages ahead."

His honesty is disarming when he talks about his condition: "There have been so many bad days and only a few good ones. Not having any races in your legs before the Tour takes its toll: when you push your body beyond its usual limits every day, recovery suffers, and you find yourself wearing yourself out day after day."

Despite the difficulties, Matthews hasn't lost his tactical clarity. He knows that his ideal stages are breakaway stages, but that joining the right breakaway is never guaranteed: "In the Tour de France, you can't choose the stages that prepare you; you have to take what comes. Many of the stages that could favor me will be breakaway stages, and you're not always guaranteed to get in. So you have to try every day and hope."

Fantasy cycling tip: Matthews could prove to be an interesting option in the second and third week stages, when the sprinters' fatigue could open up space for more well-rounded riders like him. Keep an eye on him, especially in the mixed stages.

Regarding UAE's strategy, Matthews is categorical: "Any team in their situation would do the same. We're here to win races, we're paid to win, and that's what the sponsors want. They don't care if the peloton or others are unhappy because you win so much. If you have the resources to do it, why not do it?"

A rhetorical but effective response. And one that perfectly captures the reality of this 2026 Tour de France: the UAE dominates, Pogačar wins, and anyone wanting to compete must find their own space in a race that seems already written for the Slovenian champion.