Ewan wins Australian criterium title as Von Hoff finishes 18th in title defence

Pre-race favourite Caleb Ewan held off the competition at the Australian National Championships criterium race in Ballarat to continue his incredible start to the season.

The win was Ewan's fourth in five starts - and we're only six days into the year. The Orica-GreenEdge rider dominated the Mitchelton Bay Cycle Classic to start the year - his third overall title in the year's first race.

Ewan finished second in both the criterium and the National Championships road race in 2015 to Steele Von Hoff and Heinrich Haussler respectively, but has taken the first step to doing the double this year.

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In Ballarat, Ewan crossed the line ahead of Brenton Jones (Drapac) and Anthony Giacoppo (Avanti IsoWhey) in the hour-long race.

Defending champion Von Hoff, who will ride for One Pro Cycling in 2016, crossed the line in 18th place, 11 seconds down on the winner.

Von Hoff is looking to impress in the National Championships road race in order to gain a place on the UniSA-Australia team at the Tour Down Under - with who he won a stage in 2015.