Caleb Ewan’s management has labelled Lotto-Dstny’s criticism of the Australian sprinter, just hours after he abandoned the Tour de France on Friday, as “staggering” and “disgusting”.
Ewan withdrew from the Tour during stage 13, with Lotto-Dstny later citing fatigue in a short statement.
Speaking to Cyclingnews on Saturday morning, Signature Sport director Jason Bakker said his immediate concern was not about Ewan’s future at Lotto-Dstny, which he is contracted at until the end of 2024, rather his well being, questioning what motivation recently-appointed team CEO Stephane Heulot had in publicly kicking the 29-year-old when he was already down.
“To sink the boots in on somebody, one of your own riders, in that way is very distasteful,” Bakker said from Australia.
“I’m staggered that he would think that airing those comments in a public forum at this time is the right thing to do without speaking to myself, and, as far as I know, Caleb. My focus right now is to see that Caleb is OK.”
The 29-year-old rider didn’t speak to media in the teams’ paddock post-race on Friday, but Heulot was quoted by several European press outlets as questioning the character and resolve of the five-time Tour stage winner, who made his race debut with the squad four years ago.
“He knows what the Tour means physically, but mentally he was not in great shape,” Heulot told Sporza. “The Tour confirms the image of what we saw of him this spring and also last year. The first sprints were still satisfactory, the other opportunities were not.
“Caleb wanted to give up yesterday [stage 12], but [teammate] Jasper [de Buyst] supported him. We wanted to see him in Paris. A rider not only has rights, but also obligations. We have the right to ask for a different commitment.”
Bakker decried Heulot’s commentary, adding it was dangerous and did not take into account the challenges Ewan faced in the lead into and during the 110th edition, where his lead-out in the first week was decimated.
“I want to make sure that he is OK, that his mental well being is OK. That doesn’t seem to be something of that much importance to the team, but that’s my focus right now. I’m not thinking about where is he going to ride, what is he going to do, I’m quite concerned for him,” Bakker said.
“Caleb, he’s at a low ebb. I mean, you’ve abandoned the Tour, you’re not feeling great, and then to flippantly talk about his mental wellbeing coming into the race, or…
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