Anderson, who helped put Australian cycling on the international stage by wearing the yellow jersey at the 1981 and '82 Tour de France, will join 11-times world champion Anna Meares for Amy's Big Canberra Bike Ride on Sunday.

Anderson is a big admirer of Matthews, the former under-23 world champion who wore the leader's jersey in two of the world's three grand tours last year – the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

While Matthews had to withdraw before last year's Tour de France because of a crash in training, Anderson tipped the 24-year-old to win a stage in this year's event should he get the opportunity to debut.

"It's very exciting what's in front of him," Anderson said. "The Orica-GreenEDGE team has taken on a number of young riders and we've seen the pathway young Matthews has taken. They're nurturing him and it won't be long until he wins his first stage in the Tour de France. Beyond that the world's his oyster."

"He's ready now, it will be his first opportunity [at the Tour de France]. He's obviously done the other two grand tours and proved he can survive. He's of the age now where he can step up ... given his day, anything's possible."

Matthews has shown his ability in the grand tours, winning a combined four stages at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana in just three tours. Last year he held the leader's jersey in Italy for six stages and in Spain for three.

While Matthews is a considered a strong sprinter and a future contender for the green jersey in France, Anderson said the young Canberra rider had the all-round ability to become an overall contender in some of the world's biggest races.

"You get lots of pure sprinters, but if there's a hill or mountain anywhere near the finish a lot of those sprinters won't be there," Anderson said. "But he's strong enough to survive a mountain near the finish, which we saw last year in the Giro. That eliminates a lot of other riders. He's proved he can stick in there and that's what will give him the edge.

"There's nothing saying he couldn't develop into a GC [general classification] rider, maybe not in in a grand tour, but there's a lot of other tours and events out there which could suit him which maybe aren't so mountainous. But you can't discount his youth, he could adapt."

Anderson will be among an estimated 1000 riders participating in Sunday's Amy's Big Canberra Bike Ride – named in memory of cyclist Amy Gillett – helping raise funds and awareness for cycling safety.

Meares will also ride, less than a week after taking our her 11th world track title in Paris. Anderson said Australia was considered a "third-world cycling nation" during his career and he praised the legacy riders such as Meares and Cadel Evans had created for the sport.

"She's a true legend," Anderson said. "She's won so many international gold medals now, she's not only a true hero of her sport, but of Australian sport in general. There's no men that have got so many medals like she has at that level, it's fantastic for women and cycling."

For more information on Amy's Big Canberra Bike Ride go to http://abcbr2015.gofundraise.com.au/