Jayco Herald Sun Tour stage 2: Aussie young gun Caleb Ewan edges stars to clinch stage
CALEB Ewan has clinched stage two of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour to continue a blistering start to the season, holding off Team Sky’s Peter Kennaugh and Chris Froome.
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THE spectre of a late ambush from Jack Bobridge was the catalyst behind Peter Kennaugh’s effort to take a tighter grip the Jayco Herald Sun Tour crown.
Aware of mercurial Bobridge’s reputation as cycling’s most unpredictable figure, the Team Sky all-rounder sensed danger on the final climb into Moe.
Determined not to allow Bobridge’s attack to stick, Kennaugh reacted strongly to finish third in a dramatic finale behind Caleb Ewan and American Tanner Putt.
In a glittering finish, Tour de France champion Chris Froome was fourth, Bobridge fifth and rising star Jack Haig sixth.
Time bonuses allowed Kennaugh to boost his overall lead to 13 sec over teammate Froome and Bobridge (31sec).
Having beaten Bobridge on the track in the 4000m Olympic Games pursuit final in London in 2012, Kennaugh was relieved to have survived the Australian on the road.
Surrounded by the remnants of the peloton on a stiff climb on the outskirts of Moe, a surge in tempo had Bobridge poised to capitalise on the chaos.
“It split pretty quick and Jack Bobridge put in a really strong attack on the climb,” Kennaugh said.
“I had a few teammates with me and I didn’t want to take a chance with a guy like Bobridge.
“He’ll get 10 seconds and you’ll never see him again.
“We had to cover his move and give it one kick at the end.
“I knew it was always going to be hard to shake Caleb off, I was hoping to catch him off guard, but he stuck to my wheel.
“In the end, I rode in because I’d seen I’d dropped Bobridge and it was a good chance to get bonus seconds and also extend my lead.”
Ewan, 21, posted his eighth win of the season after being superbly protected along a brutal 144km stage containing 1700m elevation and marred by fierce winds on the final descent.
Out of contention for general classification honours, Ewan latched on to Bobridge and Kennaugh before kicking away to win in 3hr 29min 6sec.
“It was much tougher than the usual sprint finishes,” the New South Wales prodigy said.
“The team rode awesome. They kept me out of trouble on the climbs.
“The last climb, I knew Jack Bobridge and Kennaugh were going to be really strong and I couldn’t let them get away.
“I jumped on and held on for my life there.
“It’s a massive confidence boost to know that even in the harder stages I can be there and win the sprint.”
Ewan climbed to 52nd overall, 10min 36sec behind Kennaugh.
Kennaugh described the rollercoaster trek from Yarra Glen through Powelltown and Noojee as “old school racing”.
“They love to race hard out here. The first 40 minutes were just full gas racing,” he said.
“Everyone was trying to get in breaks and that’s always exciting.
“Good day at the office, really.
“We were just out the front, covering moves.
“It was almost like being a junior again, just racing your bike and getting stuck in.
“A bit of old school racing really.”
Chris Harper (State Of Matter/MAAP) and Yuma Koishi (Nippo-Vini Fantini) jumped clear after the first intermediate sprint on the outskirts at Yarra Junction, 33km into the stage.
The pair built a maximum lead of more than 5min before Koishi claimed the first King of the Mountain spoils at Powelltown.
With Orica-GreenEDGE and Team Sky driving the peloton, the gap began to fall.
Harper was reeled as the Avanti Isowhey Sport, Sky and OGE took command before making the long, technical descent into Moe — but not before replacing Froome as leader of the climbing category.
Avanti’s Neil Van der Ploeg then seized the initiative to steam clear before being joined by Kiwi Jason Christie and Cameron Bayly.
With strong crosswinds buffeting the field, Ewan pulled the trigger to outgun Putt and Kennaugh.
Saturday’s third stage winds from Traralgon to Inverloch and, at 146km, is the longest phase of the five-day tour.
Travelling through Churchill and Boolarra before tackling a category three climb at Mirboo North.
The second of the King Of The Mountain tests — another category three — comes only 6km further south.
The stage starts at 10.30am and is expected to finish about 2pm.
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