Allan Davis joined the Lotto Soudal team as directeur sportif in 2022. On the eve of the Giro d’Italia, we caught up for a quick chat about the team’s star sprinter, Caleb Ewan.
– Intro to a video interview by Rob Arnold
The 105th Giro began overnight in Budapest, Hungary, and things didn’t go well for the leader of the Lotto Soudal team. Caleb Ewan was one of few pure sprinters to make it over the climbs approaching the finish of stage one, but in a fraction of a second his chance of a podium place came crashing down.
A touch of wheels in the heat of the moment and instead of challenging Mathieu van der Poel and Biniam Grmay for the win, Caleb was lying on the road in a scene that was reminiscent of stage three in last year’s Tour de France.
Within sight of the finish line, while in third place in the final dash to the line, Caleb’s front wheel touched the rear wheel of eventual runner-up Grmay and the Australian crashed heavily.
“I was just too close to his wheel and when he popped, I just clipped it and it was all over from there.”
🇭🇺#Giro
Not the climax we had hoped for today. @CalebEwan looks back on what seemed to be “a perfect scenario”. “Despite the crash, we can take a lot of positives from today.” pic.twitter.com/nAUfZnKtmR
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) May 6, 2022
The team says he’s injuries are manageable and that he’ll continue in the race. “Apart from several abrasions, Caleb came away without any severe injuries and will take the start in the ITT tomorrow.”
This interview with ‘Alby’ was recorded on the eve of stage one, Thursday 5 May 2022.
– Rob
