The confirmation of Michael Matthews' two-year contract extension was laden with meaning for the Australian cycling star and his team.
Given the 35-year-old suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in June, forcing him out of the Tour de France and off his bike for several weeks, the new deal was affirmation that the health scare is behind him.
It is also a huge vote of confidence, given sports stars in their mid-30s usually operate on year-by-year contracts as retirement looms.
