Caleb Ewan powers to first Tirreno-Adriatico stage win

Caleb Ewan has taken his first stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico. The Australian Lotto Soudal rider was the fastest at the end of stage three, which ended in a bunch sprint in Terni. The peloton had to pull out all the stops to catch an elite four-rider group. In the technical run-in towards the finish, Ewan navigated his way through the bunch, started the sprint in perfect position, launched his typical acceleration on the cobbles in Terni and took his first stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico. For Ewan, it is already his third win of the season after earlier victories at the Saudi Tour and Tour du Var.

“Finally I managed to pull off a win at Tirreno-Adriatico”, Caleb Ewan began. “I’ve been at the start several times before but always something went wrong. Today it was far from easy but this time we got it right in the race where I’ve wanted to win a stage for a long time.”

In Tirreno-Adriatico, the sprinters were given another opportunity today with a 170 kilometres long stage between Murlo and Terni, ridden on rolling roads in Tuscany and Umbria. For a moment there was a bit of a stir in the bunch when Caleb Ewan hit the ground about 90 kilometres from the finish. The Australian came into contact with a staff member of Ineos Grenadiers during the feed zone. Ewan had to change bikes but didn’t suffer from any other consequences.  

The sprint teams took no risks as the six-rider breakaway was already reeled in at just under 50 kilometres to go. When after the intermediate sprint in Amelia four riders pushed on, the alarm bells went off in the peloton. Lotto Soudal protected its sprinter Caleb Ewan at the front rows of the bunch but had to spend valuable energy in chasing the four-rider elite group. In the final kilometres, Caleb Ewan found his own way perfectly and began the final straight at the very front. Arnaud Démare launched powerfully but with his typical kick to the line, Caleb Ewan came past the Frenchman to take his first stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico.

“Due to that late attack of the elite group including Alaphilippe and Pogacar, we had to use up our guys earlier than we had hoped. But we knew that we shouldn’t give them much of an advantage so we already lost several guys even before the proper sprint preparation began. As a consequence, I had to find my own way during the finale. I just tried to follow the right wheels and do my own thing at the end. Arnaud Démare looked good and still had a teammate with him so I went for his wheel. I knew that I had to be among the first four riders going into the final corner. Such finishes, slightly uphill and with a drag to the line really suit me. So I am really happy to finish it off today.”

“With three stages already in the pocket, I am really satisfied with how the start of the season is going. My first big goal is next week and this victory gives me a lot of confidence”, concludes Caleb Ewan, who – after the podium ceremony - gave his flowers to the woman he collided with in the feed zone.

Image: Photo News.