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Australia cycling’s next big thing Caleb Ewan has opened his first full WorldTour season with an imposing win.
The 20-year-old sprint ace easily beat New Zealand veteran Greg Henderson to win race one of the Bay Classic criterium series in Geelong.
The women’s race went to fellow Australian sprinter Chloe Hosking, who was too strong at the finish for her four fellow breakaway riders.
There is massive excitement in the sport about Ewan, who joined top Australian team Orica-GreenEDGE last year.
He made his WorldTour debut at the end of the season at the Tour of Beijing and has had an ideal apprenticeship for his full-time professional career.
Ewan has been ill in the last few days, but that did not show on Friday evening.
When Henderson made his decisive solo move midway through the one-hour criterium, Ewan went with him.
The rest of the field was taken off the course with three laps left, leaving the pair to duel for the win.
“I certainly felt it there riding with Greg – he was so strong,” Ewan said when asked whether his illness had affected him.
“I just got in the right move, he’s done that before.
“So I knew when he went, it could be the race and I had to jump on that straight away.”
Henderson said Ewan was lightning-quick.
“He came past me like I was tied to a lamp post,” Henderson said.
Asked how he could beat Ewan in this four-race series, Henderson replied: “make sure he’s not with me – just keep attacking.”
Two years ago, Ewan announced himself as a future star by becoming the youngest series winner in the Mitchelton Bay Classic’s 25-year history.
After racing against Orica-GreenEDGE at the Classic, Ewan is grateful to have their firepower on his side.
“I thought it would be great to have such a strong team around me and today I had that,” he said.
“There was quite a lot of pressure to do well and it all paid off.”
Orica-GreenEDGE only had three of their six-rider team racing on Friday.
Team member Michael Hepburn showed his title defence in the time trial at the Australian championships later this month was on track with an outstanding ride.
Hepburn set the early pace, culling half the field.
Earlier on Friday, Hosking had her first win for the Wiggle team.
It is a new start for the 24-year-old Olympics and Commonwealth Games rider, who had to scramble for a contract when negotiations with Orica-AIS fell through.
The men’s and women’s races were held in temperatures approaching 40 degrees.
Saturday afternoon’s second round, also in Geelong, was moved forward by an hour because of the extreme heat.
“It wasn’t too bad when we were riding, because of the wind, but when I stopped just now I could really feel it and it was quite intense,” Ewan said.
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