Ewan claims victory in a wet and wild edition of Cyclassics Hamburg

22-year-old Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan took the win for ORICA-BikeExchange in a wet and crash-heavy Cyclassics Hamburg in Germany today.

The day’s breakaway came close to causing an upset before being caught inside the final kilometre. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) initially won the race before being disqualified for deviating from his line.

Three crashes in the last 40kilometres split the field with Ewan getting tangled and needing a bike change.

ORICA-BikeExchange executed the change and the chase to perfection with Ewan taking his first European race victory of 2016 after a hard fought sprint.

“I’m really happy with the victory,” said Ewan. “It was a very fast and tough sprint, I had to deviate from my line a bit and it’s always difficult to try and regain momentum after that.”

Read the full report here.

Magnus Cort takes third in the sprint on stage two of the Vuelta a Espana

Young Dane Magnus Cort sprinted to a strong third place for ORICA-BikeExchange in a hectic finale on stage two of the Vuelta a Espanatoday.

Excellent teamwork from ORICA-BikeExchange saw the breakaway caught over the last 20kilometres before a crash disrupted the finale with Cort sprinting brilliantly to third behind stage winner Gianni Meersman (Etixx-Quickstep).

“I was quite a long way back after the crash with two kilometres to go,” said Cort at the finish. “I lost Jens Keukeleire and had to start my sprint from a long way back and I was looking for a gap and the best line to the finish.”

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Spratt sprints to seventh in Sweden

Australian road race champion Amanda Spratt had a strong ride in Sweden today to finish in seventh place for ORICA-AIS in the 15th WorldTour race of 2016, Crescent Vårgårda.

Spratt found herself in a breakaway group of nine riders which successfully stayed away until the finish line.

The Australian rider, fresh from the Rio Olympic Games, tried some late attacks but in the end the race concluded in a reduced group sprint won by Swedish rider Emilia Fahlin (Ale-Cipollini).

“Amanda is in good form and she knows where to place herself in races,” explained sport director Gene Bates. "I think that's what happened today rather than form as she's just flown back from Rio.

Read the full report here.