Matthews probably would have finished Thursday’s second stage as race leader, but a clash of bikes at a crucial moment in the race cost him dearly.

Matthews’ dropped chain meant he lost contact with the peloton and he finished more than two minutes off the pace, his overall hopes gone.

The Australian spoke of the lack of respect among riders in a TV interview once he finished and then immediately afterwards had angry words with young American rider Magnus Sheffield.

Matthews’ wife Kat stepped in between the pair.

Afterwards, Sheffield said he had apologised to Matthews for the incident that caused the mechanical problem, but added another rider had bumped into him, forcing the contact with the Australian’s bike.

Before stage three, Matthews’ Jayco-AlUla team director Matt White bemoaned a worrying trend in the sport.

Asked if they had spoken to Sheffield’s Ineos Grenadiers team to smooth over any lingering bad blood, White said: “I don’t think really think it does anything these days, anyway.

“The lack of respect that a lot of riders have for each other, it’s something they have to work out.

“It’s certainly different than it was not that long ago and the way people set up for races, the way guys are fighting for corners, fighting for this, fighting for that – it’s a different style of racing.

“There’s a reason there are more crashes these days.”

White is among several people in the sport, including Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who have pointed to the problem.

“The riders complain about road safety, but the way they treat each other – they should have a good look at themselves,” White said.

“At the end of the day what goes around, comes around. Respect is a mutual thing.

“We’re all on the same page there – before there was a degree of respect between each other and it certainly seems to be dissipating fast.”

– AAP