Cycling sprint ace Caleb Ewan signs for UK team INEOS

Caleb Ewan, one of Australian cycling's all-time greats, has signed a one-year contract with powerful British team, INEOS Grenadiers, for the 2025 season, convinced it can transform his faltering fortunes in the saddle.

Sydney's 30-year-old "Pocket Rocket", a winner of 11 Grand Tour stages in a distinguished career that's brought him 63 professional race wins, believes he'll be refreshed by joining INEOS after an uneven year at Australian outfit Jayco-AlUla.

There had been speculation for weeks about Ewan's future with Jayco after his name was omitted from their 2025 line-up following a first season in which he won three races but didn't resemble the lightning performer who was for so long seen as one of the real flyers in the peloton.

After a troubled spell with Belgian outfit Lotto Dstny, it's now four years since Ewan won the last of his Grand Tours wins - made up of five Tour de France, five Giro d'Italia and one Vuelta a Espana - but he's convinced the new move will reinvigorate him.

"This is a really exciting new challenge for me and a fantastic opportunity to get back to my best with the incredible support of the Ineos Grenadiers," said Ewan.

"In 2025, my goal is to return to winning big races. It's been a few years since I've won some of those major events but I firmly believe I have it in me.

"I'm still only 30, and with the right guidance and the expertise that Ineos brings, I believe I can rediscover my best form here.

"We haven't finalised my race programme yet, but I'm looking forward to having those discussions with the team. It will be exciting to combine their ideas with my ambitions and together create an exciting race calendar."

"While the INEOS Grenadiers are often seen as a GC-focused team, I see huge potential in the wider group they have to support a sprinter.

"Over the past few years, I would often reference INEOS in sprint stages because their riders consistently positioned themselves perfectly in the decisive moments. That's exactly the kind of expertise I'm excited to work with.

"Joining a new team always comes with adjustments, but I already know many of the guys, and everything I've heard about how the team operates gives me confidence that the integration will be smooth. I can't wait to get started and see what we can achieve together."

Since Italian Olympic and world champion Elia Viviani left INEOS, they've been looking for a star sprinting option as they revamp their squad, with Ewan being their sixth new signing, alongside another former Jayco rider from Australia, Lucas Hamilton.

Owned by petrochemicals billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, the tycoon now overseeing footballing operations at Manchester United, INEOS had their worst season in 2024 and are looking to rebound.

One of their biggest stars, former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, has already made it clear how enthused he is by the idea of Ewan coming on board.

Speaking at the Tour Down Under before news of the signing, the Welshman had said: "I know Caleb well. He's a good mate, and if he did come here, that would be great.

"Because obviously we lack a sprinter, and 40 percent of races end in a sprint, don't they? So it would be handy to have. Hopefully it happens."