McEwen a starter Down Under

By Greg Johnson in Adelaide, Australia

Robbie McEwen (Katusha) will start today's stage of the Tour Down Under, despite suffering muscular damage during yesterday's opening stage. McEwen was struck by the lens of a fans camera on the sprint to the finish line and was lucky not to crash as a result.

"He's starting, that's official," said an event representative.

McEwen was sporting a bandaged arm as he left the team hotel this morning. Despite the bruised arm, the Cancer Council Classic winner seemed to be relaxed about the stage ahead.

Yesterday, McEwen called for spectators to be more mindful of the riders' vulnerability. McEwen pointed out this isn't the first time he's had obstructions in a finish.

"I've been hit by one of those green PMU hands in the Tour [de France] before. The year before last, I actually got hit in the head in the finish of Paris-Tours when I was on the wheel of [Alessandro] Petacchi and someone waved an arm and hit me in the head. We are really, really vulnerable."