TAKEN OFF THE

CALEBCALEBEWANEWAN is pumping – he’s won two stages of the Giro and he’s ready for “the big time”.

Cycling expert Michael Tomalaris backs Australian “pocket rocket” Ewan, who will make his Tour de France debut as a genuine contender for the yellow jersey on at least several stages at the July 6-29 event.

It’s a big call, but the man making it certainly knows his peloton from his puncheur.

Tomalaris reckons Ewan – who will turn 25 on stage 11 during the 106th edition of the Tour, in his first year at LottoSoudal – can pack a real punch for his squad after having his talents ignored by MitcheltonScott during the off-season.

“Ewan was quietly confident hewould ride the 2018 (Tour de France) as he had been promised, and devastated when his former team kept him on leash and out of the Tour de France and did not allow him to taste the fruits of his labour,” he said.

“He had been slated to make his Tour debut in 2018 but was surprisingly left out of the selection on the eve of the race.”

Since 1996, Tomalaris has been covering the race that even the most disinterested can’t ignore and his knowledge of the sport is encyclopaedic.

So when he starts talking cycling, everyone in the sport sits up and takes notice.

“Caleb reminds me of Robbiemcewan in every way,” he said.

“His style is like a panther about to pounce on a rabbit and he looks so good on the bike.”

Australian Mcewan, aka “Rocket Robbie”, was a triple winner of the points classification in the Tour de France and at his peak possibly the fastest sprinter in the world.

Mcewan is now part of the SBS commentary team for the race, along with Tomalaris and Matthew Keenan.

Tomalaris also feels that Ewan’s marriage last year and becoming a father for the first time have further grounded the talented sprinter.

“Now Caleb has free rein,” Tomalaris said.

“This time out he will look to be in the mix for the first maillot jaune (yellow jersey) on stage one in Brussels.”

Ewan decided to take an early exit from the Giro d’italia in May on a high note after securing two stage wins in order to adequately prepare for the Tour de France.

It was the right decision as Lotto-soudal confirmed he was in the squad, on June 25.

Ewan himself is simply aiming to get off to a flyer in tonight’s opening stage — flat 194km opener around the Flemish countryside in Belgium.

It will mark the 50th anniversary of Brussels native Eddie Mercx’s first overall Tour victory.