Sprint star Michael Matthews has questioned the tactics of Australian team director Brad McGee saying it cost him the gold medal at the world road cycling championship.
Matthews says McGee's decision to allow both he and Simon Gerrans to go for the win in a sprint finish was a bad choice and resulted in him getting silver in Richmond, Virginia.
"I think it would have been smarter, considering I'm a faster sprinter, to ride for me in the sprint," Matthews told RSN Radio.
"But the call was if it came down to a sprint we were going to sprint against each other.
"We sort of had to split the team into two groups, half for my teammate and half for me.
"I think it was hard on the rest of the guys in the team not really knowing who we were riding for or what was really going to happen."
Matthews said he had unsuccessfully pleaded with McGee and the rest of the team to change tactics before the race.
"I didn't agree with it at the start of the day either but I couldn't say much more," Matthews said.
"We have to live with what we've got now unfortunately and that's second place."
Matthew said he did not believe Gerrans was selfish to battle it out with him in the sprint finish.
"I think he's just a racer and a winner," Matthews said.
"You can't fault him for how he wanted to race the race. I think he thought he was good enough to win the race."
Gerrans finished sixth.
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