The distinct profile of the opening stages of this year’s Tour meant that Lotto-Dstny’s Caleb Ewan got to air his new Ridley prototype early in the race.
The unforgiving, and lumpy, terrain of the Basque country ensured ‘full gas’ racing from the off. It also meant that the Aussie sprinter wouldn’t require an out-and-out aero machine - in his case the Ridley Noah Fast - until Stage 3. Instead, he tackled Stages 1 and 2, which featured a combined ten categorized climbs, on the yet-to-be-released all-rounder that first surfaced at this year’s Dauphiné.
