McEwen back and fighting at Tour Down Under

Robbie McEwen proved he's on the way back after taking third place on stage two of the Tour Down Under today.

The Australian Katusha sprinter broke his knee at the Tour of Belgium in May last year and missed the rest of the season. "I guess I'm happy with the result after seven months out of competition but it wasn't my best sprint. I ended up going a little bit early and ran out of legs because I was on the front."

McEwen had bumped Greg Henderson off Sky team-mate Chris Sutton's wheel, something he later apologised for via Twitter, but wasn't too worried that the both Henderson and Greipel both came past him right before the line.

"They came out of the wheels and passed me, but that's acceptable considering how far I've come," said McEwen.

McEwen posted pictures on the internet from the knee operation he had, and of the resulting muscle atrophy. The difference was shocking, and not something anyone recovers from quickly.

"Coming back from a broken leg, yeah, it is a long term thing. You can't put a time frame on that sort of thing, you've just got to keep doing the right things and keep building up and see how far I get."

Whether or not McEwen will get back to a level where he can challenge HTC-Columbia sprinter Mark Cavendish remains to be seen and not even he is predicting when he'll get the chance to take him on at full strength.

"Maybe I'll be right in a month or two, or it might be six months until I'm back at 100 percent, it's impossible to say."

Tour Down Under 2010: Race reports

Tour Down Under, stage two: Greipel takes win number two

Tour Down Under, stage one: Greipel takes back sprint crown Cancer Council Helpline Classic: Team Sky off to perfect start as Henderson wins

Tour Down Under 2010: Related links

Downing adapts to embrace new challenge

Hayman admits to nerves before Sky's debut

Tour Down Under news round-up (Jan 16)

Armstrong leads thousands on Twitter ride in Adelaide

Team Sky ready for first race

Armstrong warms up Down Under

Armstrong in Australia: "I'm in better shape than last year"

Team Sky gets ready for Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under 2010: Start list

Lance Armstrong to ride 2010 Tour Down Under

Cadel Evans and BMC to ride Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under teams confirm rosters

Davis wins 2009 Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under 2010: Photo galleries

TDU stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

TDU stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Cancer Council Helpline Classic

Armstrong in Adelaide

External link

Tour Down Under official website