August 23, (THEWILL) – Cyclist Matthew Richardson has responded to negative comments about his move from the Australian to the British cycling team, calling them “meaningless words”.
The 25-year-old, who won three medals for Australia at the Paris Velodrome, announced his decision on Monday, stating he was looking forward to pursuing his dreams with the British squad. Richardson’s change of allegiance has disappointed AusCycling and drawn criticism from some former Australian cyclists.
However, the England-born athlete remains unfazed, suggesting that many of his critics likely know little about his sport. He challenged them to define a keirin without using Google, emphasising that much of the negativity comes from uninformed keyboard warriors.
Despite the backlash, Richardson reports receiving significant support for his decision, including from his cycling club in Perth. He stated that the positive reactions outweigh the negative ones, indicating a strong base of support for his career move.
There is some uncertainty regarding Richardson’s competition eligibility following the switch. While AusCycling expected a two-year ban from international events, both the UCI and British Cycling have indicated that Richardson will only miss the upcoming world championships in Denmark and the European championships early next year. Richardson acknowledged this shorter period but remains cautious about potential additional restrictions.
The cyclist’s transfer to the British team marks a significant shift in his career trajectory. As he prepares for this new chapter, Richardson appears focused on his future goals rather than dwelling on the controversy surrounding his decision.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
