Orica GreenEdge's Caleb Ewen has won the Vuelta a La Rioja.
This race in its 55th edition was over 166.3kms and from Varea with a finish on the promenade in Logroño.
Seven riders in Michael Albasini and Cameron Meier (Orica), Fernández and Soler (Movistar), Madrazo (Caja Rural Seguros RGA), Belda (Burgos BH) and Cuadros (AWT), finally got away after seventy kilometres but good work from the Basque side Murias Taldea meant that they were caught with fifty kilometres left to race.
Alejandro Valverde of Movistar immediately went on the attack and was joined by Garcia of AWT after 131 kilometres.
Valverde led going into the town of Logroño to start the four circuits around the town but with twenty three kilometres to go, the Spaniard was reeled in and Orica GreenEdge started to take control.
This control saw them set up neo pro rider Caleb Ewen for the sprint and he duly obliged to win his first race on European soil ahead of team mate Daryl Impey and Andrea Palini (SkyDrive Dubai).
“Obviously this is another great confidence booster for me,” Ewan said to the Orica GreenEdge press office.
“The team rode so well. You have to pinch yourself every now and then having guys that have won monuments, worn the yellow jersey and won stages at the Tour de France all working for you whilst you are sitting on the back.
“We went to the front just before the circuit. We had a few teams try to come past but with the team so strong, no one really could.”
Source: DSG
