As the sprinters came hurtling towards the finishing line on Thursday’s Giro d’Italia stage, Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) was perfectly placed on Andre Greipel's wheel but as he attempted to pass the German near the barriers, Greipel closed what might have been a corridor of opportunity for the young Australian. 

"I think the finish suited me, it was a really technical circuit and I'm used to that kind of racing in the criteriums in Australia," Ewan explained. "Luka (Mezgec) put me perfectly behind Greipel in the sprint and I think he could see me coming, so he closed me in on me towards the fence. I don't know how close I would have come if he hadn't done that but it was pretty disappointing that he did."

"I guess its sprinter's stuff but it ruined my line for the sprint," he argued. "Maybe I'd have beaten him, maybe I wouldn't but I felt good and it was just disappointing to have my run cut short, when I was coming around him. I guess it was a smart move by him but it is pretty incorrect."

In his stage winner's press conference Greipel confirmed that the stage to Bibionewas his last in this year's Giro and Ewan came close to making the same announcement. The Giro d'Italia now heads into the Dolomites and later the Alps and the few sprinters are staying in the race in the hope of winning stage 17 to Cassano d'Adda and the final stage to Turin.

"I've got to speak to my sports directors but the plan was stay till stage 12. We'll see. I'm still feeling good but I'm young, so maybe it's time to stop before I dig myself too much into a hole," Ewan said.

"I feel a lot better here than I did on the Vuelta. I think I'm another level higher now. That's a positive take out of it. Obviously I'd have liked to win a stage and for that it's disappointing but I've got many years to come and I'm sure I can a stage in the future."

Ewan confirmed he will now head to his European base and enjoy a short break before training for the five-day Tour of Luxembourg that begins on Wednesday June 1.