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Alaphillipe retains the yellow jersey; Pyrenees are next
Photo finish decides dramatic Stage 11 of Tour de France.
TOULOUSE, France — A bit 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 Wednesday in Stage 11 in Toulouse.
“I was ready for the Tour three of four years ago, I always wanted to go straight to the top races,” said Ewan, whose daughter was born just before the race started. “I’ve been held back, I finally got my chance.”
Ewan switched teams to Lotto- Soudal this season to replace veteran German sprinter Andre Greipel, and the ambitious youngster was, at last, promoted to a team leader role this summer in France.
After coming close in previous stages with three third- place 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 a photo finish.
Ewan perfectly timed his effort after Groenewegen launched his on the left side
of the road. Ewan took the wheel of his Dutch rival and pipped him to the line.
“It was super hectic,” said Ewan, who has now completed wins at all three Grands Tours. “I ended up in Groenewegen’s wheel coming out of that corner. It’s a hard thing being with Dylan and I knew it was not going to be easy to beat him. I felt I should let him get a bit of a gap so I could sprint in his slipstream, and I could pass him quite quick.”
The win also made up for having to leave Australia just after the birth of his daughter Lily.
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.