Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan kicks off WorldTour season with stage one Saudi Tour win

Australian sprint ace Caleb Ewan has made the ideal start to his WorldTour season, winning stage one of the Saudi Tour.

The 27-year-old leads the five-day tour after taking out the 198km stage at Winter Park.

Ewan capped off strong teamwork from his Lotto Soudal leadout train to beat Martin Laas (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) in the bunch sprint.

He normally would have started the year with a busy January schedule of domestic racing, but Ewan and most other Australian professionals stayed in Europe because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

«There is no better way to kick off the season,» Ewan said.

«Of course, I am super happy to start the year this way but I am even more impressed by how the team worked for me today. They just did the perfect job.»

Ewan said a gravel section 20km from the finish caused crashes, but his teammates kept him out of trouble and he only had to sprint for the last 100m of the stage.

It started with sunset rides to get fit. Now, these inspirational Elcho Island mums are receiving offers of help from around the world.

Compatriot Jarrad Drizners is a new addition to Ewan's leadout train at Lotto Soudal and the opening stage was his first race for the team.

Ewan's busy season will feature Milan-San Remo on March 19 as his first key objective, followed by the May Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in July.

He also wants to ride in the road race at the Commonwealth Games in August, and is targeting the September world road titles in Wollongong, not far from his Moss Vale home.

Ewan had a rollercoaster season last year, posting six wins but also crashing out of the Tour de France with a broken collarbone that took longer than expected to heal.

AAP