Nat Bromhead
Orica-Bike Exchange have announced a two-year contract extension for young Australian sprint sensation Caleb Ewan.
The news comes as fans await an expected announcement that fellow OBE sprinter Michael Matthews will leave the team for German outfit Giant-Alpecin.
At just 22-years-old, Caleb Ewan has enjoyed 14 professional victories including a stage win at the 2015 Vuelta a Espana. He also won two stages at this year’s Tour Down Under and blitzed the field at the National Criterium Championships in January.
Ewan will race for ORICA-BikeExchange for the 2017 and 2018 seasons as he continues to develop into one of the household names of the sprinting world, according to a statement from the team.
“I’m really excited to be able to stay with the team, I feel like I have progressed really well here,” Ewan said.
“I’m definitely getting stronger and I’m thankful for all the help and support the team has given me to get even better.”
“We are really starting to get everything in place for the sprints and I want to pay back the trust the team shows me by delivering as well.
“In terms of goals, I’m happy to continue my development, to get even more Grand Tour experience and go up against the big names there.”
OBE Sport Director Matt White said the team look forward to helping take Ewan to the next level.
“Caleb is still young, but we are well aware that he is ready to take the next steps in his career and we are happy to be part of that,” White said.
“It is really exciting to work with such a great talent who has already won significant races for us at a very young age.”
“We take great pride in creating the best possible environment for our riders and with Caleb we have seen that he is progressing really well within our framework.
“Time will tell how far he can take his great abilities, but there is certainly no indication that he won’t be able to be amongst the great sprinters in the coming years.”
