Michael Matthews continued the winning ways for Team Jayco AlUla with a stunning uphill sprint victory in the inaugural Gran Premio Castellón.

Buoyed by Dylan Groenewegen’s win at the Gran Premi València yesterday, the squad set out to deliver in Spain once again. A hilly parcours made for an attacking finale, but the team constantly had things under control throughout the 175km race from Castellón to Onda.

A dangerous solo attacker was eventually reeled in before the final ascent up to the finish line, and once the road ramped upwards, Matthews did his thing as he powered away from his rivals to take his first win of the year.

Michael Matthews:
“It was a beautiful day today, the weather was amazing and the crowd here in Spain always gives me such a nice feeling. I’ve had a lot of my nice victories in Spain and to be the first winner here in this race is really special.

I think the first lap we came through [the finish] was actually harder, there was a lot of stress because everyone knew the main climb in the final was coming up two kilometres after the finish line, so there was a lot of stress and then it was full gas from there all the way to the finish.

I think yesterday we worked amazing as a team and today we took it up from the start, we took the responsibility and we had confidence in ourselves to deliver the result. Full credit to the guys who rode all day today and yesterday for me and for Dylan, it shows that the hard work pays off.”

2024 Gran Premio Castellón – Results:
1. Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) 4:09:47
2. Oiere Gautherat ST
3. Alex Aranburu ST

Photo: Sprint Cycling