The Australian World Championship team have suffered a late blow to their hopes of taking the Rainbow Jersey with star sprinter Caleb Ewan withdrawing from the squad and citing a lack of form for his reason.
“After discussions between Caleb and team management, Caleb decided that he couldn’t be at his very best for these World Championships, and therefore he has withdrawn himself from the team,” said Australian sports director Mathew Hayman in a statement released by AusCycling on Friday. “While we had wanted him to be part of the team, we fully respect and support his decision. With our eight riders, we have a well-rounded ARA Australian Cycling Team that can support our high ambitions at these World Championships.”
This blow just comes a number of days after fellow first-choice member of the Australian squad, Robert Stannard was provisionally suspended over a pair of alleged doping incidents from 2018 and 2019. The DSM-Firmenich pair, Matthew Dinham and Alex Edmondson are the riders drafted in as replacements for the team.
Michael Matthews, a medallist last year heads up the Australian charge, supported by the likes of Kaden Groves, Simon Clarke, Luke Durbridge, Lucas Plapp and Harry Sweeny.
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