An avid and versatile athlete, Austrialian rider Matt Goss was a promising Aussie Rules Footballer before deciding to focus his energies on cycling. “I was what they call a ‘rover’, which basically meant that I ran around a lot,” he recalls of his Aussie Rules career. “I did that until I was 16, after which it was just cycling. I don’t regret the choice I made….”

Among Matt’s other sporting passions are motor racing and, as of quite recently, golf. He doesn’t yet have a handicap but hopes to rectify that in the near future. “I can’t really remember any major personal highlights on the golf course yet…Generally, I’m happy just to make contact,” he jokes. “I play a fair bit when I’m back home in Tasmania. Quite a few Aussie cyclists play now, not that we’re any good.  We’re ‘aspiring’ golfers, I’d say.”

Like a lot of his Aussie compatriots on the professional cycling circuit, Matt lives and trains in the Principality of Monaco for most of the year. “It doesn’t necessarily live up to the glitzy image everyone has of Monaco,” he assures us. “You certainly see a lot of wealth, some big boats in the harbor, but you can also live pretty humbly there. I think that groceries and other essentials probably cost more in Australia at the moment.”

Matt is new to HTC-Columbia in 2010, and brings his sprinting and classics skills to the team.  Goss turned pro in 2007, and in 2009 enjoyed success by winning Pris Brussels and placing third at Gent-Wevelgem.

“There was a different kind of pressure in 2010 from what I’d experienced at my previous team Saxo Bank,” says Matt of his breakthrough first year with HTC-Highroad, “I felt relaxed in that I could prepare for races as I wanted, and I had a lot of support from the team. At Saxo Bank, I had support, but it was generally from one or two riders, whereas here I’ve been given a lot of help.”

2011 Results

• Winner Milan San Remo
  
• Winner Stage Three Paris-Nice
  
• StageTwo of Tour of Oman
  
• Stage One of Santos Tour Down Under 2011
  
• Winner of the Cancer Council Classic at TDU
• Winner of two stages and overall at Jayco Bay Classics
• Second Place at Australian National Road Champs 
• Winner Stage 8 Tour of California
• 2nd Place, Stage 6 Tour de France

2010 Results

• Winner GP Ouest France - Plouay
• Winner of Stage 9 - Giro d'Italia
• Winner of Stage 1 - Tour of Denmark
• Winner of Philadelphia International