McEwen axed from Australian world team

Robbie McEwen has been sacked from the Australian road team to race in the world championships in Australia in October, reports said yesterday.

McEwen, ranked 44th on the last UCI world rankings and the winner of 12 stages of the Tour de France, said he was told of his axing by the chairman of selectors Shayne Bannan at the Eneco Tour stage finish in the Dutch city of Roermond on Saturday.

“I’m absolutely gutted and really disappointed,” McEwen told The Australian from the Netherlands.

“The selectors felt that the road course between Melbourne and Geelong (in Victoria) was just too tough for me, but I don’t agree.

“I’ve ridden over it and believe I could have managed it and been competitive. Like everyone else I’m just shocked that I’ve been axed. I truly believe I’ve done enough here at the Eneco (Tour) to have warranted a start.”

Bannan declined to give his reasons to the newspaper for the selectors’ dumping of McEwen from the nine-man team.

“Out of respect for Robbie and what he’s accomplished for Australian cycling, I’ll give my reasons only after the team is officially announced,” Bannan told The Australian.

The UCI road world championships from September 29 to October 3 will be staged for the first time in the southern hemisphere.