Michael Matthews will be one of the favourites for the rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia. The Orica GreenEDGE Cycling Team rider showed he was in a great shape. Hedid a great campaign in Canada with a stage win in Alberta and a 2nd place behin winner Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quick Step) in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.

"My season’s been really based around the world championships this year, with a few peaks during the season and then the buildup towards the world championships," the Australian rider told according to Velonews. "Everything I’m doing at the moment is for that one-day race, but it is a one-day race, so it’s difficult to judge how you’re going to be on the day."

"It would be truly incredible to wear that jersey if I eventually do get to," Matthews added. "It’s a really good race for me this year. It’s probably the one that’s suited me the best over the last few years and for the next few years also. So I’m going 110 percent for it and I’m focused more than I ever have been."

But he knows that there will be a lot of rivals in Virginia. "I haven’t actually ridden the course yet, but everyone’s been telling me that it’s a course that really suits my style of rider. Unfortunately there’s a lot of guys in the peloton who are the same type of rider as me! So we’ll see how it goes."