Sprinters "actually suffer much more than the winners" at the Tour de France - Commentary on Caleb Ewan

Caleb Ewan has abandoned the Tour de France yesterday and it has led to a new debate. Questions revolve around his commitment to the team and vice-versa, with harsh commentary coming from the team CEO criticizing the 'Pocket Rocket' himself.

"I think you should have more respect for riders like that than for riders who win the race. Because they actually suffer much more than the winners," former pro Jolien d'Hoore said in the Vive le Vélo show. "But he looked very resigned. He did not give the impression that he wanted to continue. That is a pity. Everyone has a period like that once in a while. But he has to go through."

Ewan failed to net a stage win, and after a few days struggling on the climbs, on stage 13 he pulled the plug, abandoning the race after two teammates dropped back on their own will to help him - with the team said to have 'given up' on him in stage 12. Team CEO Sébastien Heulot has criticized his behavior and argued that he has no respect for his teammates, alongside an attitude of criticizing.

"With the statements in the interviews, they also make a clear statement with his team. They indicate that this is not okay. Something has to change. It is now up to Caleb himself, but it can go either way. Either he will start riding results now, or you will lose him completely."

The Australian has a contract until 2024 however he now finds himself in a difficult situation, not having won a Grand Tour stage since the 2021 Giro and his power fading against other big sprinters in the field, but also with the rise of Belgian supertalent Arnaud de Lie within the team who will most likely soon become it's main priority, and start an internal battle for the team's focus.

"He just couldn't deliver much for Lotto-Dstny for a while now. Does the mental aspect also play a role?" Karl Vannieuwkerke argues. "Ewan gave some teammates the feeling that he is letting them down. What also plays, of course, is that they have dropped out of the WorldTour. He is the man who is paid dearly to take stage victories and points. In this way you take away part of the budget to train young riders or get other top players. That actually mortgages the future of an entire team."