In sport, rivalries can often drive athletes to push themselves above and beyond their known capabilities. Cycling is no different with sprinters often case in point.
For Brenton Jones, Caleb Ewan has been a thorn in his side across the Australian summer of cycling since both started making the annual pilgrimage to Ballarat in early January. Perennially challenging the Mitchelton-Scott rider, Jones is yet to get one over Ewan but has arguably become a better rider due to their battles.
Inking a deal with French Pro Continental squad Delko Marseille Provence KTM for 2018, Jones' season programme is set to include his most WorldTour races to date. While Ewan continued his winning run in Wednesday night's Australian national road criterium for a third straight victory, a fourth career medal in the event for Jones confirmed his preparations are on track for bigger goals in the months to come.
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"It is a long year with many road races and I am looking forward to going head to head with him again," Jones said of Ewan. "I have a lot of respect for him and it was a great win by him. I am happy with third. I am feeling good and I really want to peak for my first few races with my new team Delko. I have a lot of plans on the cards for a busy first three months of the season. It is a great start and I am really honoured to be racing on home soil in Australia for them to let me and allow me to come home of Christmas and New Year to race. I think I am showing them some form and I am ready to go back and have a strong lead out for the season."
Jones wasn't just racing for own result in Ballarat. The 26-year-old was the only rider in the bunch with a black arm on in remembrance of teammate and friend Jason Lowndes, who was killed in a training ride accident in his hometown of Bendigo.
"It is tough when that is your job, your life and you just love riding your bike," said an emotional Jones of 23-year-old Lowndes. "Sometimes you have to look over shoulder and make sure you are safe on the road. There are a lot of other sports that you are out on a court or in a field but riding a bike, you are in the hands of others. It is a dangerous sport."
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