Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan sent his Bundaberg fans into overdrive this week when he won stage three of the Tour de France.
There weren’t many who were more excited than Bundaberg grandparents, Marie and Brian Ewan, who have spent many late nights watching their grandson.
“Everybody wants to see their children or grandchildren succeed and I guess this was like a dream come true for all of us,” Marie said.
“Just watching him, we get such a thrill out of it, and we’ve been watching it over and over.
“We’ve been staying up as late as we can.
“Last night we went to bed an hour before it finished, but we know it’s going to be on between 7 and 8 the next morning, and we also know that it’s back on at midday and then it’s also going to be on between 5 and 6pm.”
Ewan timed his effort to perfection to win the third stage in a bunch sprint at the end of a 198km hilly ride through the alpine foothills.
The route featured four minor climbs before a flat finish suited to sprinters like Ewan.
Brian and Marie were cheering from their lounge room.
Last year the proud grandparent made a cardboard cut-out to celebrate their son’s success.
Marie said they were hoping to recreate one for this year’s Tour de France, but COVID restrictions meant Caleb was unable to send them this year’s cycling jersey and flags.
Ewan threaded the needle
Ewan was proud to win again on the biggest stage, a year after taking three stage victories on his first participation in the Tour.
The win is all the more impressive with the team down two riders due to a crash on the first stage.
“Obviously the first day we crashed and lost two guys, so we’re down to six already,” said Caleb Ewan in a post-race interview.
“But everyone stayed motivated and we all knew that if all went right then I could win the sprint.
“Everyone did their job today and gave 110 per cent and made up for the two guys we missed and it worked.”
The win is Ewan’s fourth stage success of the season, and his fourth at the Tour de France after his impressive hattrick last year.
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