Australian sprinter triumphs in stage one, taking the race lead at Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Italy.
Caleb Ewan marked a victorious debut for Ineos Grenadiers on Tuesday, clinching the win in a thrilling sprint finish on the first stage of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Bondeno, Italy.
Ineos Grenadiers controlled the race throughout the day, with Ewan perfectly timing his sprint to secure the win following an impeccable lead-out from his teammates, notably Ben Swift. Ewan had joined the team after a mutual agreement to leave Australian squad Jayco-AlUla during the off-season.
The Australian was untouchable in the final sprint, with Oden Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech) and Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies) finishing second and third, respectively, far behind Ewan. With the victory, Ewan also claimed the overall race lead as he heads into stage two on Wednesday.
Ewan, who secured three victories in 2024—including a stage win at the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain—joined Ineos Grenadiers earlier this year. His win on Tuesday extends the team’s successful run in 2025, following Magnus Sheffield’s stage victory on the final day of Paris-Nice.
Reflecting on his win, Ewan admitted his relief after returning to racing for the first time in 200 days.
“Obviously, there’s no better way to start,” Ewan said. “I came in knowing my form was good, but after such a long break, it’s hard to gauge where you’re at. I was a bit nervous this morning, but the team did an amazing job. Honestly, it was one of the best leadouts I’ve ever had. Everyone committed 100%, and I’m just happy to finish the job.”
Ewan had previously shared his frustration with his former team, Jayco-AlUla, citing a “bad situation” before his move to Ineos. Speaking on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast, Ewan even suggested that he had considered retiring before making the switch.
“This means a lot,” Ewan added after his win. “The last few months have been tough. It’s the longest I’ve gone without racing in my career, and I didn’t know what to expect. I’m just really grateful for the team’s support and their incredible work today.”
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