Caleb Ewan cements title as fastest man in Australian cycling after claiming national criterium title

CALEB Ewan is now the undisputed fastest man in Australian cycling after finishing a textbook performance from his Orica-GreenEDGE team to win the national criterium title.

Cycling Australia Road National Championships - Stage 1 Men's Elite Criterium, Winner Caleb Ewan from Greenedge Orica in action. Ballarat. 6th January 2016. Picture: Colleen Petch.

CALEB Ewan is now the undisputed fastest man in Australian cycling after finishing a textbook performance from his Orica-GreenEDGE team to win the national criterium title in Ballarat on Wednesday night.

Ewan was untouchable in the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic to open the summer last week and on Wednesday he blitzed the field to beat Drapac's Brenton Jones and Avanti-Isowhey's Anthony Giacoppo for his first senior national title.

The 21-year-old was given an armchair ride by his teammates throughout the 44km race then showed the turn of speed which won him a stage of the Vuelta a Espana last year to claim victory in front of team owner Gerry Ryan.

Luke Durbridge and the OGE train was outstanding on the front of the peloton by reeling in constant attacks and shepherding him from a crash on the final lap, then it was up to first-year professional Alex Edmondson to deliver Ewan as close to the finish as possible and the pocket rocket from Bowral did the rest.

"I can't fault the team at all, they rode it perfectly and gave me such an easy ride and that's what makes the difference in the end," said Ewan who finished second in the race last year.

"They did the same thing in Williamstown a couple of days ago, rode the race from start to finish, they were riding a solid tempo all day and I think some of the teams thought they would die towards the end but they actually lifted.

"They were perfect today (Wednesday) ... it's nice having a team you can rely on so much."

But no sooner had he won the criterium crown, he turned his attention to Sunday's road race where he was second last year and will start as one of the favourites alongside star teammate Simon Gerrans.

Caleb Ewan in the pack before storming to victory. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Ewan said he was prepared to play whatever role the team wanted but he did not hide his ambition of wanting to complete the nationals double.

"I'm an elite national champion and that's nice to have on your palmares but I'm still looking forward to the road race and that's the big one you want to win," Ewan said.

"Obviously I'd like to win but we'll see how the race plays out ... and to be honest I really don't know what the team is going to make me do.

"I'm a lot stronger this year than I was last year and know exactly how the race happens, how to race over the 18 laps instead of 12 or 13 in under-23s so having that knowledge going into this race will be a massive benefit.

"I'm probably not so much a clear favourite like he (Gerrans) is and it doesn't matter what the conditions are like, he's always going to go good, but for me the conditions need to be right for me to do well."

Drapac played the role of antagonist during the 44km criterium with Sam Spokes leading several attacks off the front, but a rock-solid OGE squad refused to concede any ground and still had four riders on the front of the bunch with four laps to go.

The national cycling championships continue with the individual time trials at Buninyong on Thursday.

Originally published as Caleb Ewan cements title as fastest man in Australian cycling after claiming national criterium title