Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen proved that he has recovered from his bad crash in last year’s Tour of Belgian with a strong display in the recent Santos Tour Down Under. The Team Katusha rider was third in the preceding event, the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, then went on to finish fourth overall in the ProTour race, as well as taking second, third and fourth on stages.
The 37 year old has now returned to Europe and will line out in the Mallorca Challenge races, which begin on Sunday with the Trofeo Palma de Mallorca. After that, he indicated on Twitter that he’ll join sprinting rival Thor Hushovd (Cervélo Test Team) in the Volta ao Algarve, February 17 – 21, then do the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (February 27), Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (February 28th) and the Strade Bianche Eroica on March 6.
McEwen will use the Tirreno Adriatico stage race (March 11-17) to sharpen up for what is likely to be his first big goal of 2010, namely Milan-San Remo (March 20).
After that, the Dwars Door Vlaanderen (March 24) comes four days before another big target, namely Gent Wevelgem.
McEwen is a twelve-time stage winner in the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, and has taken the Maillot Vert on three occasions. He’d jump at the chance to win another green jersey but knows that he’d have to outsprint Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd to do so. He’ll therefore hope to turn back the clock in July, returning to his top form, and will also aim for a rainbow jersey in Geelong next October.