Caleb Ewan looks to re-kindle career, signs with Ineos Grenadiers

Australian sprint cyclist Caleb Ewan has made a bold move in his career, signing a one-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers. This comes after Ewan's performance gradually declined following five years with Lotto Soudal, leading him to switch to Jayco AlUla last season.

However, just as the Tour Down Under was about to begin, Ewan was excluded from the Australian team's roster, sparking speculation about whether he would miss the race. The 30-year-old, who has previously won five stages at the Tour de France, has now joined the British team, hoping to revitalize his career. "This is a very exciting new challenge for me," Ewan stated on the Ineos Grenadiers website, "It's a great opportunity to get back to the top."

At his peak, Ewan was one of the best sprinters in the world. He has won five stages in the Tour de France, five in the Giro d'Italia, and one stage in the Vuelta a España. Ewan is one of the few riders to have won stages in all three Grand Tours. However, after achieving promising results early in his career, his performance has significantly declined in recent seasons.

Cycling commentator Matthew Keenan, speaking to ABC Sport in Adelaide, said, "This is his only option. This is the last throw of the dice. He's signed a one-year deal, and hopefully, he makes the most of it. He's had a phenomenal career, one of the few Australians to win stages in all three Grand Tours, but I wouldn't want to see him finish his career with regrets. Grab this opportunity, go all in."

Ewan initially performed well while riding for the team then known as Orica GreenEdge and continued his winning streak after moving to Lotto Soudal. However, his results significantly declined, and he has not won a stage in a Grand Tour since 2021. After being criticized by team management in 2023, Ewan left the Belgian team by mutual agreement and joined Jayco AlUla last season. However, the Australian rider, who finished behind Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen in the sprinter rankings, failed to make the Tour de France roster. He only managed to win three races for Jayco AlUla in 2024.

"My goal for 2025 is to get back to winning the big races," Ewan stated in a release. "It's been a few years since I've won those big events, but I'm confident I still have the ability. I'm only 30, and with the right guidance... I believe I can get back to my best here. We haven't finalized my race program yet, but I'm looking forward to having those discussions with the team. Combining their ideas with my ambitions and creating an exciting race schedule is something I'm excited about."

There were earlier rumors that Ewan would join the team for this year's Tour Down Under, and Ineos veteran Geraint Thomas told media at a pre-race briefing on Monday that he would be a great addition to the team. The former Tour de France champion told ABC Sport that he was looking forward to Ewan joining the team. "I've always said that having a sprinter on the team would be good," he said. "A lot of races finish in sprints, and you go to the big Tours to win stages, and a third of them are sprint stages. He's also a top sprinter, and obviously, he's had a tough few years, so hopefully, we can get him back to his best and fulfill his potential, because he's a valuable asset. He's still young, and there's still a lot of potential to unlock. He definitely has that ability... he'll be a good teammate. Having a sprinter is good for everyone; it can focus everyone on those race days, and the young guys can learn how to ride and position themselves in the sprint group. Having someone with experience and reliability like Caleb in the final sprint, I think, is a huge advantage for the team."