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An emotional speech from Australian cycling legend Robbie McEwen fired up his GreenEDGE team-mates before the final stage of the Tour Down Under.
GreenEDGE controlled the sixth stage on Sunday to ensure Simon Gerrans would win his second Santos Tour on a countback ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde.
It was not only the landmark debut WorldTour win for Australian cycling’s first top-level professional team, but the last race in this country for McEwen.
The winner of three green jerseys at the Tour de France will retire from competition mid-year, ending a storied career.
At the end of their team meeting on Sunday morning before the 90km Adelaide street race, McEwen thanked his colleagues.
“I just said to the boys … ‘fellas, I’d just like to say that this being my last official Australian race, how proud I am to ride it with you guys at my side in what is our national team’,” McEwen said.
“We’ve gone through a lot as rivals, and on different teams, and then together at worlds and Olympics, but today this can really be the pinnacle of it, winning this race with you blokes.”
According to team owner Gerry Ryan, McEwen became emotional.
“He had a little tear and you don’t reckon that didn’t fire up the boys,” Ryan said.
Gerrans’ win was the perfect reply to Sky team director Sean Yates, who queried the form of some GreenEDGE riders at this Tour.
Ryan said the team was not at full strength following injuries to Julian Dean, Jack Bobridge and Baden Cooke, forcing them out of the race.
“We didn’t expect it (to win the overall Tour title) – we were criticised in the paper (for) being a bit underdone, but the boys knew what work they’d done,” Ryan said.
“They proved it today.”
Gerrans’ second Tour title and his win at the national road titles a fortnight ago mean GreenEDGE have made the perfect debut.
Ryan is a successful businessman well-known for his support of various Australian sports. But this is something else, as he is bankrolling GreenEDGE for their first two season.
“It’s the biggest commitment I’ve ever made in sports,” Ryan said.
“It’s time and involvement.
“I’m sure I will get the success long-term.”
Short-term, they’re now also well on the way.
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