Caleb Ewan loved a profitable weekend on the bike in Belgium, taking his first win of the season at Saturday’s Van Merksteijn Fences Traditional earlier than ending second on the Ronde van Limburg on Monday.
By means of the primary 29 race days of the season, the Australian had racked up 4 podium spots for Lotto-Dstny, in addition to a win within the non-UCI Schwalbe Traditional criterium. The run additionally included a controversial second place within the picture end on the GP Monseré.
It was, as he stated after the Van Merksteijn Fences Traditional, “most likely the worst begin of my profession“.
Ewan had the beating of Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) in Zwevegem, beginning his run-up to the Tour de France with a win. His run to second on the Ronde van Limburg behind Thijssen was extra chaotic, nevertheless, with three bike modifications coming within the ultimate kilometres of the 1.1 race.
“At 10km from the end I had a flat tire. I knew the group automotive was distant, so I would not have the ability to get a brand new bike shortly,” he stated. “Due to this fact, I swapped with Jarrad [Drizners], however in fact, his bike was manner too large for me.
“A couple of minutes later Michael [Schwarzmann] supplied his bike, however simply at that second the group automotive drove by and so I modified bikes for the third time.”
Ewan stated that he thought his possibilities of getting a end result from the 204km semi-Traditional have been over when he punctured, thanking his teammates and lead-out man Rüdiger Selig for his or her laborious work in getting him again on and up entrance.
“The second I punctured I truly thought my race was over. The tempo within the peloton was so quick. With out these bike modifications or the laborious work of Rüdiger I’d by no means have made it again to the entrance of the peloton.”
He concluded that he was happy to take second place given the circumstances and famous that he was on monitor for the Tour de France, his large purpose of the season, the place he’ll intention so as to add to his profession tally of 5 stage wins.
“A second win would have been good, however I had already misplaced a whole lot of power on that experience again to the peloton. Conserving these mechanical points in thoughts, I am tremendous glad with this second place.
“I’m in good condition, however I really feel there may be nonetheless margin on it. We nonetheless have simply over a month till the Tour, so I hope I can peak there.”
His subsequent race comes on the Baloise Belgium Tour in mid-June, the place he’ll look to proceed the run of fine outcomes forward of July.
“This was most likely the worst begin of my profession, so I actually wanted this win,” Ewan stated after his win on the Van Merksteijn Fences Traditional. “I did not need to go to the Tour de France with out a win to my title. Hopefully, this may give me the boldness I wanted, and the ball will begin rolling now.
“The group by no means gave up on me and saved believing in me. They rode with confidence at present and pulled my card. After the final nook, I wasn’t within the best place, however I waited for the suitable second and was ultimately in a position to soar into Merlier’s wheel.
“They believed in me and did a superb job and due to my teammates I used to be in a position to begin the dash recent. I’m very pleased that I used to be in a position to end it.”
