Controversial Olympic cycling star Matthew Richardson, who has caused outrage in Australia over his decision to defect to race for Great Britain, has confessed his decision to join the rival team.
The 25-year-old Olympic silver medalist, who dazzled in the Keirin and Sprint trials in Paris, was handed a lifetime ban by Cycling Australia on Monday following his controversial defection.
The move has angered some in Australia, where cycling fans branded him a traitor after explosive new details about his defection emerged on Monday.
According to an investigation by AusCycle into his defection, Richardson is alleged to have withheld information from the governing body that he was abandoning ship to join the British. It is understood he was aware of the defection before the Paris Games.
The governing body, which slammed the dual national on Monday with multiple sanctions, also claimed Richardson had attempted to take “AusCycling property, including a custom bike, cockpit and Olympic racing suit to Great Britain”.
They added in a statement: “This represented an unacceptable risk to AusCycling’s intellectual property.”
The ban prohibits him from re-joining the Australian cycling team, accessing its resources or receiving related awards.
Controversial cycling star Matthew Richardson has opened up about his decision to defect from Australian cycling to Britain.
On Monday, the Olympic silver medalist was handed a lifetime ban by Cycling Australia.
While he is currently banned from representing GB at the World Championships or the Olympic Games until next year, he was able to take part in the Track Champions League this weekend.
While he is currently banned from representing GB at the World Championships or the Olympics until next year, he was able to participate in the Track Champions League this weekend, winning the Keirin and Sprint events.
Speaking over the weekend with SBS, Richardson spoke further about his decision to defect to GB, with the 25-year-old explaining that he would have regretted the call later in his life if he hadn’t made the move now.
“GB has always been something that stuck with me since I was a kid,” Richardson said in an interview with SBS.
“Ever since I moved to Australia and when I started competing for Australia, I always had the idea that I could compete for GB, so it’s stuck with me ever since.
“Already halfway through my career, I thought now would probably be a good time to do it, if I was going to do it.” And I thought I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t try and try to make the change.
“So here I am.”
He added that the shorter flight times were a real advantage, compared to flying to Europe from Australia, before adding that he faced some challenges during the move.
“Getting here (Paris) was only an hour’s flight,” he said. “Super calm, instead of coming from Australia, it takes two days or something like that.
It came after he turned his back on Australia to compete with Great Britain and has now swapped a green and gold jersey for a red, white and blue one.
Richardson has also revealed his team colors for the UCI European Track Champions League.
‘The fruits of that sense are already being reaped. And it’s nice to be close to the races.
“The move has come with its challenges, of course: trying to adapt to a new environment and a new team and things like that, but I’d say it’s gone pretty well.”
Speaking about his victories this weekend, he added: “It’s incredible (to race and win in GB colours). I was really trying to soak up the experience, but when the announcer said my name, representing Great Britain, it was a shock. very special feeling.
“It’s a dream come true and winning every race tonight was more than I ever wanted.”
Meanwhile, Richardson has kept a low profile on social media since being banned by AusCycle.
He posted a photo of himself running in Paris wearing a red, white and blue cycling suit, with the caption: ‘A dream start for @ucitcl in Paris! Tough night with what seemed like a lot of pressure to perform. There is still a long way to go, so take it one race at a time. Next stop, Netherlands.
The 25-year-old, who was born in Kent, England, went from Australian hero to public enemy number one by announcing he would compete for Great Britain in August.
Richardson competed as a track cyclist in the Keirin, Sprint and Men’s Team Sprint at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the Australians finished fourth.
Richardson has irritated some Australians but said he would greatly regret it if he had not made the switch.
Apparently, the cyclist tried to take several pieces of equipment
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Kent-born 25-year-old claimed two silver medals in the Keirin and Men’s Sprint, and a bronze in the Men’s Team Sprint.
He then surprised the Australians by announcing his decision to change nationality and compete for Great Britain, citing personal reasons and a desire to pursue new dreams.
This move was approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and, following his defection, Richardson competed for Great Britain in the UCI Track Champions League three days ago, winning the men’s Sprint and Keirin finals in France.
In the wake of his ban, Richardson took to social media to show off his new national colors alongside his new team jersey, earning the ire of Australian sports fans in the process.
Richardson said the design of his new uniform was “really cool.”
‘Red, white, blue, super clean. It also matches the legs. It’s great to finally be in this.
“After watching drivers race in it for the last three years, it’s a bit of a strange feeling.
“But it’s great and definitely a 10/10 for me.”
While British fans were excited to see their new superstar showing off his new colors on social media, Australians were less enthused.
‘Banned for life from Australian cycling. You can’t get respect and integrity back,’ posted one Australian supporter.
‘It’s your choice, but you will have questions about your loyalty and ethics throughout your career. Given the support of Australian cycling institutions and his current record representing Australia. “Personally I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, but he has to live with it,” added another.
“Renegade confirmed and banned,” another complained.
“I would have just sold it on the Facebook marketplace,” another said of the uniform.
“Absolute (snake emoji),” another posted.
However, those Australians are receiving little sympathy from British fans.
“Ah, I’m so glad to see you in the British colors, they look good on you,” one posted in his video revealing the GB uniform.
“What an improvement,” another posted with a fire emoji.
Richardson will next compete in Round 3 of the UCI Track Champions League on November 30, where Apeldoorn in the Netherlands will make its debut as a tour venue.