Michael Matthews becomes sixth Australian professional to wear pink

"For my first Giro d’Italia, to wear the pink jersey, it’s truly incredible."

Michael Matthews after stage two of the 2014 Giro d'Italia

(Image credit: Watson)

Versatile sprinter Michael Matthews tucked into a sandwich at a post-race press conference as the knowledge of becoming the sixth Australian to wear the maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia today sunk in.

The 23-year-old finished eighth at the end of the second stage, which German Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) easily won, to take the leader’s jersey from Orica-GreenEdge teammate Svein Tuft.

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Contributor

Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.