Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) claimed his second scalp of the race ahead of Sacha Modolo (EF Education First – Drapac) and Patrick Bevin (BMC Racing), who collected a time bonus to extend his overall lead.
Ewan will effectively replace Greipel and build his own sprint train at Lotto Soudal from next season but hasn’t been able to get the measure of the German statesman here yet.
“He wasn’t feeling great. At the start of the stage it was definitely all for him but then as the stage went on it just got worse and worse,” Wilson said at the finish in Royal Leamington Spa.
“He got up there and had a little bit of a go in the sprint, but it wasn’t his day. He said he tried but just didn’t have the legs.”
Lucas Hamilton abandoned Stage 3 in Bristol with an unspecified virus, which is what has put Wilson on alert.
Cameron Meyer currently sits second overall, four seconds in arrears of Bevin, but has ruled out his chances of race title honours considering the uphill team time trial tonight (AEST).
Mitchelton-Scott is depending on Ewan in what is his last race of the season and final with the outfit that controversially overlooked him for Tour de France selection earlier this year.
“Lucas came down sick two days ago with a virus of some sort so we’re hoping it’s not a virus,” Wilson said.
The 24-year-old has otherwise been in the mix here. He finished second to Greipel on Stage 1 and got boxed in on Stage 3, settling for 12th. Sprinters will have another shot at line honours over the weekend.
