Caleb Ewan has withdrawn from the Australian crew for Sunday’s World Championships street race, citing issues over his kind. His absence marks the second late change to the choice after Robert Stannard was provisionally suspended throughout the week for an alleged doping violation.
The DSM riders Matthew Dinham and Alex Edmondson have been added to the crew rather than Ewan and Stannard.
Michael Matthews, a medallist on the Richmond, Bergen and Wollongong Worlds, will lead Australia’s problem on Sunday, with Simon Clarke, Luke Durbridge, Kaden Groves, Lucas Plapp and Harry Sweeny additionally included.
Ewan had two close to misses in bunch sprints within the opening week of final month’s Tour de France, however he struggled when the street climbed. He was the topic of blunt criticism from Lotto-Dstny supervisor Stéphane Heulot after he deserted the race on stage 13.
Stannard revealed on Wednesday that he had been provisionally suspended by the UCI for “using prohibited Strategies and/or prohibited substances” in 2018 and 2019, when he raced for Mitchelton-Scott. Presently at Alpecin-Deceuninck, he’s suspended from racing pending the decision of the case.
“After discussions between Caleb and crew administration, Caleb determined that he couldn’t be at his perfect for these World Championships, and due to this fact he has withdrawn himself from the crew,” stated Australian directeur sportif Mathew Hayman in a press release launched by AusCycling on Friday.
“Whereas we had needed him to be a part of the crew, we absolutely respect and help his determination. With our eight riders, we now have a well-rounded ARA Australian Biking Group that may help our excessive ambitions at these World Championships.”
