THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Tour Down Under: McEwen makes winning seem almost easy
THE only thing that can seemingly stop Australia's Robbie McEwen from racing in full flight at the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under is the finish line.
By winning Thursday's 149km third stage on the Willunga circuit south of Adelaide, McEwen (Lotto) took his tally of wins in 14 days to five.
McEwen won so comfortably, he could have been sitting in an armchair sipping fine wine in one of the many bed-and-breakfasts in the region.
It was also the Queenslander's second stage win for the tour. And it saw the recently crowned Australian road champion take leadership in the sprinters' points competition.
However, McEwen, who won stage one at Glenelg on Tuesday to become the first wearer of the race leader's yellow jersey, may be out of contention for the overall win.
He is 16th overall at 8mins 6secs to Italian Fabio Sacchi (Seaco) who leads ACT's Michael Rogers (AIS) by 1 second and Italian Andrea Tafi (Mapei) by 5 seconds.
But that is only due to McEwen missing the winning break in Wednesday's second stage from Hahndorf to Strathalbyn.
"Things are going well. And once you get on a roll like that everything you do just keeps working out," said McEwen.
"But I am not thinking about the overall victory … just the stage wins.
"Still, I hope they (Lotto, his sponsor) are happy because I'm not sure I have any left in me now."
To win yesterday McEwen out sprinted Italian Luca Paolini (Mapei). In third was Australian Scott Sunderland (AIS).
The trio headed a group of 33 riders that formed after the descent from the summit of Old Willunga Hill, a five-kilometer climb that starts 25km out from the finish.
The climb failed to be as definitive as anticipated. But that was not without attempts to split the field, which spent all day chasing a two-man breakaway.
McEwen's teammate Belgian Glen d'Hollander (Lotto) and Dutchman Tristan Hoffman (CST) escaped after 20km. Then d'Hollander dropped Hoffman on Old Willunga Hill.
But on d'Hollander's tail was the main bunch which split under a bevy of counter-attacks, including one by Cadel Evans (Mapei) that saw d'Hollander reeled in.
The acceleration also saw the main bunch split in two. And caught in the second group were Sacchi and defending champion Stuart O'Grady.
Sacchi and O'Grady rejoined the lead group, finishing 10th and 21st respectively.
But compared to McEwen's joy, their relief counted for little.
