Nicola Rutzou
Earlier this week, former Aussie track sprinter Matthew Richardson responded to a statement and review from his former bosses at AusCycling.
We reported three months ago on the shock defection of Richardson to ride for Great Britain.
The rider spoke frankly about the lifetime ban imposed by AusCycling, saying it was “just words on a piece of paper and don’t carry much weight for me.”
“I didn’t know it was coming,” he said, adding: “I guess they were just keen to get one last blow, a final word.”
Richardson, who has represented Australia at two Olympic Games, said he has been “respectful” and “thankful” to AusCycling and had repaid its investment with his results.
He said he hoped the parties could “come to some sort of sort of understanding” about his switch in time.
“I thought it was pretty obvious that by wanting to ride for GB for the rest of my career, that would mean I didn’t want to ride for Australia,” he said.
“It’s almost like you leave your job and three months later they go, ‘Yeah, well, you’re fired.’ Well, I already left,” he added.
Richardson was speaking at the UCI Track Champions League. “Hearing the announcer call my name, representing Great Britain, was a really special moment,” he said.
“It gave me chills. It was nice getting through rounds because I got to hear it again and again and again.”
Born in England, Richardson moved to Australia at the age of nine. He said earlier this year, “This isn’t about leaving something behind, but about embracing a new chapter in my journey and chasing a dream, a dream that is to race for the county in which I was born.”
