'It's not possible to finish the Giro d'Italia' - Caleb Ewan blunt on controversial 'get out' race strategy

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) has confirmed that he will quit the Giro d’Italia early to focus on the Tour de France, a strategy he has received criticism for in the past. Ewan has been honest and upfront about his decision to save himself for the Tour by not completing the Giro, which he does not believe is possible for a sprinter in his position. Ad/> But the Australian has previously been slammed for adopting this strategy for the famous Italian race and his approach to not completing a Grand Tour after taking to the start line.

/> Giro d'Italia'More pressure on the sprinters' — Preview to Cavendish v Ewan at Giro2 HOURS AGO «It is not possible to finish the Giro all the way if you also want to be in top form at the start of the Tour de France at the beginning of July,” Ewan told reporters, as quoted by Wielerflits. »When do I leave Italy? I didn’t put an exact date on it, but anyway, before the start of the tough last week. «Otherwise, you have to dig too deep into your reserves.

As soon as I feel that I am getting less, I get out.» Only last year, Eddy Merckx criticised Ewan for a «lack of professionalism and lack of respect» after he withdrew from the Giro midway through Stage 8. Cycling legend Merckx, who won both the Giro and the Tour de France five times, criticised the move by Ewan and said he should be punished. «What Caleb Ewan did bothers me a lot,» he told Het Nieuwsblad.

/> «He deserves a sanction, such as withdrawing all his bonuses. »The former boss of the Tour de France, Felix Levitan, would have told him not to come next year after doing that." Merckx’s son, Axel, who works as a team manager for Hagens Berman Axeon, also said he believed Ewan was wrong to leave the race when he did. «The simple fact of