Wednesday, 4 March 2020:
 | | Australian cyclist CALEB EWAN of the Orica - Scott team celebrates after winning the People's Choice Classic street race in Adelaide, Australia. | |
|
Australian sprint ace Caleb Ewan has set his sights on a maiden stage win in cycling's prestigious Paris-Nice race as his season ramps up.
Arguably the world's best sprinter, Ewan says the eight-stage race in France starting on Sunday favours his strengths.
The Lotto-Soudal rider - who won three stages on debut in last year's Tour De France - is again in fine form in 2020 and won stage two of the UAE Tour for the second year in a row this month after two stage wins in the Tour Down Under in January.
The 25-year-old is confident that the Paris-Nice route will offer him opportunities for success, although he did not win a stage on his race debut last year.
"I think it's pretty well known as one of the most important tours of the start of the season," said Ewan.
"It's maybe the real start of the season. In my mind, it's a race that offers good opportunities to the sprinters.
"I didn't win any stage last year so I'd like to achieve that this year.
"In any case, I take Paris-Nice as a priority first, focusing on sprint stages.
"Only after I'll set my sight on Milan-San Remo."
Ewan was among the cyclists to be tested for the coronavirus after the UAE Tour was abandoned due to two Italian riders testing positive but has been cleared to participate in Paris-Nice.
Ewan recalls a childhood affinity with Paris-Nice.
"As far as I remember, the Tour de France and Paris-Nice were the only two races that were televised in Australia, or kind of," he said.
"So I watched those two."
Stage one of the Paris-Nice race begins on Sunday.
