Caleb Ewan wins Saudi Tour opening stage after impressive teamwork
 

Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan could immediately raise his arms in the air during his season debut at the Saudi Tour. The 27-year-old Australian won the bunch sprint in Al Ula, at the end of the opening stage. Lotto Soudal guided its sprinter to the finish line in a perfect way and Ewan rounded off a great team effort with a powerful sprint. Teammate Jasper De Buyst still finished fourth after an impressive lead-out. Martin Laas and Fernando Gaviria finished second and third, respectively. Following his victory, Caleb Ewan will wear the green leader’s jersey during tomorrow’s stage two.

 
The opening stage of the five-day Saudi Tour was immediately the longest assignment of the week. Between the start and finish in Al Ula, the peloton covered just under 200 kilometres. With a predominantly flat course, all signs pointed towards a bunch sprint, even a seven-kilometre gravel section at 20 kilometres from the finish couldn’t disrupt the plans of the sprint teams. After an impressive lead-out, Caleb Ewan was delivered to the finish line in perfect position. The fast Australian rewarded his teammates with a win.
 
“There is no better way to kick off the season”, Caleb Ewan said after taking his first win of the season. “Of course, I am super happy to start the year this way but I am even more impressed by how the team worked for me today. They just did the perfect job. The gravel section at twenty kilometres from the finished caused some chaos and crashes, but my teammates always made sure I was right at the front of the bunch leading into that sector and that way, they kept me out of the danger zone. Afterwards, they delivered me towards the finish line just perfectly. I only had to sprint for a 100 metres. That is why this victory is one of the entire Lotto Soudal team.”
 
The new lead-out composition including Australian Jarrad Drizners and German Rüdiger Selig immediately proved to be successful.
 
“Obviously, we wanted to win today. But the first time with a partly new lead-out is always exciting, but all credits to newcomers Rüdiger Selig and Jarrad Drizners. They did a great job immediately integrating into the team and together with the other guys, they brought me to the finish line just perfectly. It is nice to see all the hard work during winter immediately rewarded.”
 
After two wins on Mallorca, Caleb Ewan makes it three victories so far for Lotto Soudal this season. Tomorrow, a 164-kilometre stage is scheduled with an uphill finish suited to the punchers.

Image: Photo News.