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The shotgun wedding between Caleb Ewan and Ineos Grenadiers saw a very romantic start Tuesday at the Coppi e Bartali.
The Aussie speedster returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly eight months on his debut for the British team at the opening stage of the Italian race.
“There’s no better way [to start],” Ewan said at the line Tuesday. “I came in knowing my form was pretty good, but when you haven’t raced for so long you have no gauge of where you at.”
Ewan’s victory Tuesday against a crop of second-tier sprinters won’t be the biggest of the 30-year-old’s career, but it could be equally significant.
Ewan was thrown a lifeline by Ineos Grenadiers this January after the out-of-form finisher was lost in the mess of a botched transfer from Jayco-AlUla to Astana-Qazaqstan.
Jim Ratcliffe’s crew needed a sprinter to replace Elia Viviani and put momentum back into its wheels after a tricky 2024, and the rider needed a contract, fast.
Call it a deal.
…and he still got it! Caleb Ewan wins the opening stage of Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Bondeno, his first victory for Ineos Grenadiers! No rivals but still impressive, the jury can give him one second gap there.
️ @LosBrolin #CoppieBartalipic.twitter.com/zfYDswCxdm— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) March 25, 2025
A win on debut suggests bigger things could be in the works for Ewan and his new sprint train of Ben Swift and Kim Heiduk.
“This means a lot. The last few months have been hard … it’s the longest time that I’ve gone with no racing in my career, so I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” said Ewan, who has been on the sidelines since last September.
“I’m just happy that the team gave me so much support and did an amazing job,” Ewan said.
Ewan might not see any more chances in the hilly remaining stages of the Coppi e Bartali.
A ride later next month at the Tour de Romandie will show how much life there could be in the Ewan-Ineos Grenadiers marriage.
With seven wins already from 2025, nobody will count out the resurgent British team and its rebooted new sprinter.
