The Moss Vale Missile has got a victory in Belgium.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Former Southern Highland resident, Caleb Ewan emerged late to win a hectic, rain-soaked opening sprint at the Tour de Wallonie in Belgium.
Coming along the barriers in the final moments to beat Irish road race champion Sam Bennett and Belgian road race champion Tim Merlier.
Ewan said in a Lotto Soudal media release that "The whole day was quite nice until it started raining with one hour to go."
"The rain and cobbles on the finishing circuit made it a super nervous run-up to the final sprint," Ewan said.
"My team did a good job in keeping me close to the front. In the end, I was a little bit far, but that was perfect since my competitors launched the sprint very early and I could come back in the final metres."
Teammate, Mark Cavendish was also in the thick of the action until the final metres, but then slipped back and touched shoulders with other riders, losing position.
The opening stage of the Tour de Wallonie offered the men's field a 185 race from Soignies to Templeuve, and despite two second-category climbs inside the last 60km, the day was meant for the sprinters.
In the end, it was Ewan who took the win by a narrow margin ahead of Bennett and Merlier.
"I want to defend the leader's jersey," Ewan said.
"But the fourth stage will be too hard for me.
"With Philippe Gilbert we have someone in great form and he knows the local roads. So he will target the GC for team Lotto Soudal."
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
