As careers go, Matt has achieved a lot, showing himself to be a versatile, exciting and driven rider across a multitude of races and disciplines.
After lighting up the domestic scene on teams like Raleigh and Madison Genesis, Matt moved to Lotto Soudal where he raced prolifically, most famously beating Richie Porte on the slopes of Willunga Hill in the 2020 Tour Down Under and sporting several spotty jerseys at Paris Nice in 2022.
Fast forward to 2024 and Matt has lifted a cobble as the winner of the Lincoln GP, travelled to Hong Kong as part of the British team pursuit squad for a round of the Track Nations Cup and taken a big gravel title at The Gralloch in Scotland.
Fresh from the gravel nationals in Galloway Forest Park in south west Scotland, Matt filled us in on preparation as a privateer versus team rider, his role as road captain and why the Tour of Britain is a race he won’t be taking for granted.
Just checked into his hotel in Peebles, Matt recapped on his logistics-heavy lead-up to the race and what was a tough ‘leg loosener’ for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain. It’s no wonder he wasn’t sure what day it was!
“So I raced the British Gravel Nationals a couple of days ago. No, yesterday! Near Castle Douglas, Gatehouse of Fleet. It was only a short race at 85 kilometres, but really, really hard. It was a good opportunity because it was three days before and only a two-hour drive from the race hotel. Same with the INEOS guys. So Connor and Ben Swift had the same idea - which made the race a hell of a lot harder.
"I was self-supported and went there on my own. It's been a logistical challenge to get myself, three bikes, spare wheels, tools, nutrition and kit organised. Then I was cleaning my bikes myself, at the Airbnb. Now I'm in the Great Britain team and more supported. It'll be nice to have; I've not had support for a couple of years, so it'll be nice to have a massage between stages and a mechanic to actually look after my bike.”
And while the support team and other riders were yet to join him at the hotel, themselves travelling up the day before the race, Matt spoke fondly about the team’s Directeur Sportif for the race: Matt Brammeier.
“I've had some trips with Matt before and they were some of the best race trips I've ever done. We went to the Olympic test event, European Championships and Hong Kong Track Nations Cup. He is the Academy coach, but then deals with senior riders too. It's relaxed and a really good laugh. And obviously he knows what he's doing.”
Selected as team leader and road captain, Matt will be able to share his wealth of experience with Max Greensill, Jed Smithson, Ben Wiggins, Michael Gill and Tomos Pattinson. It’s a development team with a considerable amount of talent and Matt is looking forward to stepping up to a leadership role after his recent solo exploits. With the gravel championships done and dusted, he’ll also now have more time to research the race in order to report back to the team:
“I'll be trying to lead. I was definitely not a team leader within Lotto, but with these young riders, I will know a lot more just from experience. I'll go through what I would normally do and try to pass that on to the guys. I think some of them are really good; I mean that would be nice if there's someone that can actually win it somehow.
"While I'm here for two days, I'll definitely look through all the stages and see if there are any danger points or opportunities to do anything. I have a feeling it's going be six sprints, which is not great for me, but we have got someone that can sprint.”
Preparing for the race, Matt hasn’t quite had the typical countdown a professional rider might have done: having to split his time between riding, filming and activities with his sponsors. Of organising his time, he says: “I have to compromise. You know, there's the reality I have to earn money. I have to do things myself. Connor and Ben were so much better than the rest of us yesterday. But I also have to remind myself that I should bloody well hope so! When you see the setup that's arriving here, like, if they weren't, then they're doing something horribly wrong.”
But it’s a race that means a lot. Matt has had three appearances racing for Madison Genesis in 2017, 2018 and 2019, finishing on a high in the latter as the best British rider. And reflecting on those years he’s looking to approach things a little differently this year as leader, but will be imparting some key advice to the rest of the team.
“I always just used to go in the breakaways. That was the only goal: go in the breakaway, try to get to the finish. Try to get some sort of sprinter or leader's jersey along the way. I think I'm more confident in myself now and going in the breakaway was a bit of a desperate thing, like I've got no chance if I stay in the bunch. Whereas now I'm going to see how it goes. Because there are a few climbs and then if it does split up, I'll hopefully be in the front and then I can try to get a good position on GC.
"I would recommend to the young guys to do exactly what I used to do. You know, push the limits, go in the breakaways, get on TV all day. Yeah, just learn. Get used to suffering at the front. That's it. It's the only way really to get better: just push it.
"When I was younger, I remember watching Thomas De Gendt go in the breakaway every single day. I don't know what year that was, but I can remember that vividly. So that was good to be on the team with him, years later.”
And though his race strategy has evolved, Matt’s riding style remains the same. But with time riding in the World Tour, a training block with the Great Britain Cycling Team on the track and his own freedom without a team at the likes of Lincoln GP, the Lloyds Bank National Road Championships and several UCI gravel races, he is reflective going into the next six stages.
“I'm a really attacking rider. I like to go in the breakaways and just go for it and ride as hard as I can. See what happens. But the only thing that I've changed is I've gotten a lot smarter. I know my limits. I know how good the opposition are and what I can and can't do against them. So it'll be nice to come back with a bit of a wiser, smarter approach to it.
"I really want it to split up and there be a select GC group on the first couple of days. I'll be happy if that happens. Besides that, it's going to be a bunch of sprints unless it's really windy one day. It would be nice to be the best British rider again. But we just have to aim to win the race. I think it's not that far-fetched.
"There are six World Tour teams and then the rest is smaller teams, so it's not like we're going to be completely pushed to the back. There's not going to be total control of the peloton, so the bunch sprints will be more of a free-for-all. So I think there's opportunity to win a stage and even win the whole race if you get lucky. I mean, what are you doing if you're not trying to do that; you've got to set out with vision. And then see how close you get.”
Living on the edge of the Peak District, Matt has excellent riding on his doorstep and with years as a domestic pro, he knows British roads all too well. There is always talk of a home advantage in a controlled space like a velodrome, but what about out on the roads of the Tour of Britain?
“I think it does help you. You always underestimate the advantage you have on home roads. Just by being familiar with the style of roads and training on the same type of tarmac. If you train in Spain all the time and then you come to the UK, it would be a real shock how slow the roads are.
"And then also just the travel; it's a drive rather than a flight and a drive. And it's a familiar surrounding, less stress. Everything adds up without you really realising. So yeah, there is a home advantage, that's for sure.”
And while it’s only been a few months since Matt last pulled on a Great Britain jersey at the Hong Kong round of the Track Nations Cup, this time it’s going to feel pretty different.
“Hong Kong was just a track race, whereas this is riding for Great Britain in the biggest race in Britain. It's a pretty once in a lifetime thing, really. To be doing it for British Cycling rather than, you know, a Belgian lottery. It's very different thing. And in an Olympic Year, I think we're going to have a lot of crowds. So I'll try not to take it for granted and enjoy the experience. It's nice to be in a British environment and have fun as well as take it seriously.”
With a whole week of racing ahead there is so much potential for Matt and the team. From Kelso to Felixstowe there is a world of possibility, as well as an opportunity to catch up with other riders and enjoy those post-stage massages! But fast-forward a week and what will Matt be up to?
“So the day after I'll be getting the train to Glasgow and I'll be riding to pick up my car. And then I go straight down to Bristol for a trade show. And then after that it will be training for gravel worlds. That's the next big, big thing. At the end of October.”
Matt and the team will be in action from Tuesday 3 through to Sunday 8 September and you can follow the race in a few different ways:
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Watch roadside, with details in our supporter guides
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Watch live on ITV4, ITVX, YouTube or Discovery+
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Follow on our live blog
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Follow our socials for key updates (@BritishCycling)
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Watch nightly highlights on ITV4
