Michael Matthews finally got his chance this year at Strade Bianche, but the BikeExchange-Jayco rider failed to make his much-anticipated debut on the hilly white gravel roads of Tuscany.

With about 100 km to go, a major crash occurred, involving many of the contenders for the win. Initially, the Australian riders thought they might get through unscathed, but soon found themselves on the ground, as did world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl) and others.

"After crossing the summit, we went down into a tremendous crosswind," Alaphilippe said. That's when a guy came barreling into me from behind at great speed and flipped me over the handlebars."

As the race entered the gravel in sector 5, the wind was gusting, and when the Luchignano Dasso section was exposed midway through the race, it was chaos as riders crashed from the front. Even the riders who survived the big crash were not safe, and a solo rider lost his balance as the wind blew in.

"I don't think the wind was normal for this area today," said one rider. "That section was a little unlucky. The timing wasn't right.

For Matthews, it meant another disaster in a season already hampered by COVID-19.

"It was a really good result today. I was really looking forward to it. I'm just disappointed because I felt really good during the race," Matthews said.

"I still want to race, but I'm sitting on the bus with stitches in my jaw and my knee.

It's been a very long time for Dylan, a 12-year World Tour pro, to compete in Strade Bianche. This time, however, Dylan Groenewegen would lead the team sprint in the French race, while Matthews would remain in Italy for the Tirreno-Adriatico, which begins on Monday.

There was no mention of whether his injury would interfere with these plans. One thing we do know, however, is that while Matthews' first Strade Bianche did not go as planned, it will not be his last.

"I'll be back next year," Matthews said in an Instagram post.