Michael Matthews and Team Sunweb have produced a tactically brilliant race, with the Australian grabbing intermediate sprint points and then winning stage 16 of the Tour de France.
Matthews crossed the line in a bunch sprint, just holding off Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen and Germany’s John Degenkolb.
The Australian let out hoots of joy when he was notified he had got up by a wheel-length to claim his second stage win on this tour, after he won stage 14 on Saturday.
Matthews also closed the gap to green jersey wearer Marcel Kittel to 29 points, after the German rider was dropped on one of the stage’s earlier climbs, leaving the 26-year-old Australian jubilant.
“To get another win in the same Tour de France … wow,” Matthews said.
“Normally when I am in a tour … I can normally win one stage but the second one is the hardest to get.
“I think it won’t sink in until tomorrow morning.”
The stage played out perfectly for Matthews as heavy cross-winds broke the peloton apart and Kittel struggled over the climbs.
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