Ewan stars on final Tour stage
CYCLING: Caleb Ewan saluted on the Champs-Elysees to put the exclamation mark on a stunning Tour de France debut.
The Aussie was in a state of shock in Paris after he darted along the barriers to edge out Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen and Italian Niccolo Bonnifazio on the last day of the Tour.
Egan Bernal sealed overall victory after finishing safely in the peloton, with the 22-yearold Colombian becoming the youngest yellow jersey winner in more than a century.
Ewan’s third stage win – the most of any rider this year – came after earlier successes on stages 11 and 16.
“I can’t believe it. This is where all the sprinters want to win and I’ve done it my first time and I just can’t believe it,” Ewan said at the finish.
“I think this is the most iconic stage in cycling history and to be honest, I turned on to the Champs-Elysees for the first time today and I almost had tears in my eyes.
“It was just such a surreal feeling to be here and out of all the Tours de France I’ve watched, this is the one that stays the same, so I’ve watched it year after year since I was a young boy. I’m finally here and I just can’t believe I’ve won the stage.”
While the last stage of the Tour de France is a ceremonial affair for the general classification contenders, it is considered by many to be the world championship of the sprinters.
Ewan came from four riders back in the last 100m with an irresistible acceleration.
“It was quite messy and I was far back. I was patient. I waited,” he said.
“I didn’t know how many guys were in front of me. But luckily I had enough speed to come through at the end.”