EWAN UNLEASHES UPHILL SPRINT TO NAB STAGE
AUSTRALIA’S pocket rocket Caleb Ewan showed he is no one-trick pony and why he is bound for this year’s Tour de France, by winning Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under in Stirling yesterday.
Ewan moved into the leader’s ochre jersey after unleashing an uphill sprint in the final 200m to win an epic 148km stage after four hours in scorching heat in South Australia.
It was the seventh TDU stage win of his career and he rated it the best.
“I think so for sure, especially because it was a finish that probably suited (Peter) Sagan better than it suited me, so to get one up on him here in a finish is a bonus,” Ewan said.
“It’s probably more exciting winning on a stage you’re a bit more unsure about going into ... I’m very thrilled.”
The win was highlighted by the quality of the field including world champion Sagan and pure-sprinter Andre Greipel, who was dropped in the closing stages.
But the most impressive part of the 23-year-old’s stage win was his ability to rebound after finishing second and third in the Classic and Stage 1.
“My confidence probably went down a little but it was great to see the team’s confidence didn’t go down at all,” he said. “I want to repay the team for the work they’ve done.”
His teammate Daryl Impey finished second, while Jay McCarthy was third.
Ewan now holds three jerseys – the ochre, sprint and young rider jersey – going into today’s Stage 3 from Glenelg to Victor Harbor.