In 2012 and 2013, Caleb Ewan surprised the entire cycling world when the fast sprinter beat some of the World's best riders at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic at just 17 and 18 years of age respectively. Now back to defend the title he won last year, Ewan is uncertain of his condition after suffering a training crash in the build-up to the event.

Not many had heard about Caleb Ewan when the then 17-year-old youngster lined up for the 2012 edition of the criterium series knows as the fastest in the world, the Bay Classic series. When the dust had settled from the race, he was, however, the hot topic of discussion after having won two of the four races in the event.

In the overall standings, he was beaten into second by Allan Davis, one of Australia's best sprinters and a former Worlds medalist, but the result was the start of what is shaping up to be a glorious career. Later that year he was 2nd in the junior world championships and last year, he got the better of all the stars when he won the Bay Classic overall.

This year Ewan is back to defend his title and he can start the race full of confidence. Last year he won 8 races on the U23 scene and was 4th at the World Championships in his first year as a U23 rider.

Those results that include stage wins at the Tour de l'Avenir and the Thüringen Rundfahrt, have earned him a contract with Orica-GreenEDGE. He will ride as a U23 rider for most of the year but will get his chance as a stagiaire in the final part of the season. Next year he will become a true professional with Australia's major team.

First on his agenda is, however, his title defence at the Bay Classic but he got things off to a really bad start when he crashed in the build-up to the event.

“I was rating them (his chances for back-to-back victories) pretty well a few days ago but then I crashed so I am a bit batted,” Ewan said. “No bad injuries, just some skin off with the worst part a chunk out of my hand.

“I have done a few of the crits all around the place recently and have been going pretty well in them so I am confident going into the Bay Crits, but there are a lot of good guys there.”

Ewan didn't get the best start in the series which kicked off earlier today. Like most of the peloton, he was lapped by a 7-rider breakaway and failed to score any points for the overall classification.

If he fails to repeat his win, it will, however, be no major disaster. He has already been pleasantly surprised by his results.

“Going into the year as my first in the under 23’s I didn’t really expect that much but all of the result I got really did exceed my expectations,” he said. “The (Bay Classic) victory was more of a confidence boost in that you get to race with some of the best guys in the world, so when I went over to Europe, I think it was a really good knowing that when it comes down to a sprint I can be up there with the pros so in the under 23 level I should be up there as well.”

From the Bay Classic, Ewan is expected to head straight to the Tour Down Under where he could line up in the colours of his national team. The race will be the beginning of an exciting season.

“It’s really exciting to hopefully do Tour Down Under. All the under 23 races at the start of the year, hopefully Commonwealth Games and go onto the pro ranks and race with them at the end of the year,” he said.

The race series continues tomorrow with the Eastern Gardens Criterium where Zakkari Dempster will be wearing the first leader's jersey.