Australian cyclists Caleb Ewan and Alexander Edmonson to race in Belgian classics on weekend
CALEB Ewan and Alexander Edmondson will get their first taste of the famed Belgian classics this weekend.
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CALEB Ewan and Alexander Edmondson will get their first taste of the famed Belgian classics ​this weekend when the young Australians tackle the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Sprint star Ewan, 21, is likely to contest Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne after crowning a glittering domestic season with victories in the Mitchelton Bay Classic series and the national criterium contest as well as stage wins on the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and Tour Down Under.
He will be surrounded by several experienced riders including Mat Hayman, Mitch Docker, Sam Bewley, Luke Durbridge and Jens Keukeleire.
“For sure he (Ewan) will have a protected role after doing so well for us already this year,” Orica-GreenEDGE sports director Laurenzo Lapage said.
“As a young rider it’s important that he gains some experience in these kind of races, without any additional pressure.
“Of course we have a plan going into the races. We have trained very well and will arrive at the start completely prepared.”
OGE has used its traditional training camp in South Africa to prepare for the start of European season.
“Coming directly from the South African climate to Northern Europe can be a bit of a shock,” Lapage said. “However, the most important thing for us is that we carry the good feeling within the team into these races. It would be great to get a result. We will see.”
The Omloop and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne are both about 200km long, but the races are completely different.
Omloop features 13 climbs and 10 sections of cobbles and is regarded as a much tougher race than Kuurne.
And the notoriously treacherous late winter weather — snow caused the abandonment of the 2103 Kuurne — invariably plays a defining role.
Englishman Mark Cavendish last season won the sprinter-friendly Kuurne, which has 11 climbs — the last of which is 50km from the finish.
Ian Stannard has won the past two editions of Omloop for Team Sky.
World champion Peter Sagan, Cavendish, Tom Boonen and Alexander Kristoff are among Ewan’s expected opposition on Sunday.
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