Ewan posts his first Tour stage win, Alaphilippe keeps yellow
A bit TOULOUSE, FRANCE — more than a year ago, Caleb Ewan was devastated to be left out of the Tour de France.
The Australian sprinter had to watch cycling’s biggest race on TV after finding out at the last minute that his Mitchelton-Scott team was placing all its bets on Adam Yates in the fight for the yellow jersey, and would leave Ewan at home.
A year later, Ewan earned his first Tour victory by edging a close sprint on Stage 11 in Toulouse on Wednesday.
“I was ready for the Tour three of four years ago, I always wanted to go straight to the top races,” said Ewan. “I’ve been held back, I finally got my chance.”
Ewan switched teams to Lotto-Soudal this season to replace German sprinter Andre Greipel, and the ambitious youngster was, at last, promoted to a team leader role this summer in France.
But the pressure was big on Ewan, a winner of 36 professional races — including stages at the Spanish Vuelta and Giro d’Italia.
After coming close in previous stages with three thirdplace finishes and a runner-up spot, he finally delivered by edging one of the peloton’s fastest men. The 25-year-old Australian beat fellow sprinter Dylan Groenewegen by a tire’s width and was awarded the victory after photo finish. Elia Viviani placed third ahead of three-time world champion Peter Sagan.
The win also made up for having to leave Australia just after the birth of his daughter Lily. He thanked his wife.
“She let me come here and leave my young baby in hospital,” Ewan said. “It’s the hardest thing I had to do.”
With the race heading into the Pyrenees over the next four stages, the main favorites did not take any risks Wednesday and there were no significant changes in the overall standings. Frenchman Julian Alaphillipe kept the yellow jersey, 1 minute, 12 seconds ahead of defending champion Geraint Thomas. Thomas’ teammate Egan Bernal, the Ineos co-leader, remained in third place, a further four seconds behind.