LEASH AT LAST

“I’m relaxed now but come Saturday morning I will be nervous,” Ewan told reporters this week.

“I’m just excited to experience what the race is like.

“It’s amassive motivation for me that it (the first stage) is in Brussels.

“Obviously it’s never going to start in Australia so the next best thing would be to start in the home country of your team and it’s pretty special my first stage is this one.

“If there was any stage I would pick to win this year, it would be this one, because it means the yellow jersey too.

“I would say it wasn’t ideal that my wife gave birth in between the Giro and now, but I think I’ve managed it quite well and I’m pretty much inmy top shape, although maybe I haven’t been able to rest as much as I would have liked.”

Tomalaris says Ewan is experienced in playing mind games to psyche out an opponent.

His cycling career started when he was 10, and in 2010 he became the Junior National Road Race Champion – taking out multiple disciplines at the Junior National Track Championships.

A year later he became omnium world champion at the Junior Track World Championships.

Now Tomalaris is hoping Ewan’s natural talent, impressive work ethic and steely determination will speak for themselves – and show his former team just what they have missed.

“Fingers crossed for him at the Tour to shut people up and to send a message to Green Edge/mitchelton-scott for keeping him on a leash all these years,” Tomalaris said.

And with four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome an early scratching after suffering fractures on a recon ride at the Criterium du Dauphine last month – and three of last year’s top four to miss this year’s edition – Tomalaris thinks this Tour could be one of the most interesting races we have seen in years.

“The field for overall honours now Froome (Ineos) andd Ttom Ddumoulinli (Ssunweb)b) are out is wide open,” he said.

“It will be a fresh race, exciting and unpredictable and the most open field for at least a decade.”

Tomalaris said Tour director Christian Prudhomme had again blended a judicious mix of tradition and innovation on this year’s routes, making all 21 stages essential viewing.

“The 2019 Tour will have many hills and climbs aswell as good blend of sprints,” he said.

“Traditionally there are many long stages, which are endurance tests for riders and the viewers.

“It’s a global TV event so he is mixing it up to make it interesting for viewers and competitors.”

RICHIE PORTE HEINRICH HAUSSLER MICHAEL MATTHEWS EGAN BERNAL JAKOB FUGLSANG