Michael Matthews has revealed a collision with a fire engine driving on the wrong side of the road caused him to miss months of the season.
The incident occurred in Italy on the 5th March, but Matthews did not initially detail how the incident occurred, only detailing the injuries and subsequent surgeries and rehabilitation. The former Tour de France green jersey winner suffered an open arm fracture, cut thumb tendons, broken wrists, and a sinus fracture requiring stitches to his face.
He was left unable to exercise for three weeks, and off the home trainer for four. After a lengthy lay-off meant he missed the entire classics campaign, he finally returned to racing at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné) yesterday following a training camp in Livigno, Italy.
Speaking to the Australian Detour podcast, Matthews said, “It was much worse, let’s say than everyone had thought. It also wasn’t said that I hit a firetruck at pretty much 100km/h, I was doing 50 and the truck was doing 50.
“That obviously wasn’t said but at the same time we didn’t want people to be able to worry. We just wanted people to know that there was a bad incident but not to the extent of exactly what it was until we were ready to put that out there – what actually happened. And to make sure I was fit and healthy before we said exactly what happened.”
In his career, the Australian has won 10 stages across all three Grand Tours and thrice finished on the podium of Milan-Sanremo. Despite the severity of his injuries, and an extensive recovery period, the injuries have not deterred the 36-year-old from returning to racing.
“I trust myself and I trust my equipment. That crash wasn’t my fault. I was motor-pacing and I came around a corner on my side of the road and, from what I remember, there was suddenly something red in front of me.
“With a crash like that it could have ended my career, or even worse. I might not be here right now. I’m extremely blessed to be able to tell the story and how lucky I was.
Announcing his return to racing on Instagram, Matthews said, “the wrists are starting to move really well, training’s been going really well. Everything’s going back to plan.
“I’ll be back to my normal racing schedule for hopefully the rest of the year, I’m really looking forward to being back with the team and I just want to say thank you to everyone for all their support through this difficult period of mine. It gave me a lot of strength to keep fighting, and get back in to shape to compete at the top level again. Hopefully onwards and upwards from here.”
2 thoughts on “Michael Matthews reveals horror training crash caused by fire engine driver on wrong side of the road”
I’m so happy to see you make a complete recovery. I look forward to seeing you out racing again.
Hate to see anyone get injured like this and have some idea of the pain and discomfort having gone through having both hips replaced but I have to ask some questions especially as there doesn’t appear to be any detail of how the incident happened. I’m not even sure that this is a news story as there is so little information. Was the fire truck using its siren? If the answer is no, then no excuses, what the F was it doing on the wrong side of the road? If it was using its siren, what happened to the pacing vehicle? Was he in or on the pacing vehicle? Did the pacing vehicle not think to slow him down on hearing an emergency vehicle? Did he not think of slowing down himself on hearing a fire truck? I really am sorry Michael is injured but come on this is shocking journalism.