The decision by Australian team Mitchelton-Scott to not pick the 23-year-old sprint ace has left Ewan devastated.

The odds of Ewan staying at Mitchelton-Scott were also already lengthening and now they've blown out completely.

Ewan's debut would have been one of the big Australian stories in the Tour next month, alongside overall contender Richie Porte and reigning green jersey champion Michael Matthews.

Even without Ewan, there will always be plenty of local interest in Mitchelton-Scott.

But after announcing last December they would give Ewan his Tour debut, they have had a change of plans and instead will throw all their resources behind British rider Adam Yates for the general classification.

Mitchelton-Scott team director Matt White said a year ago he was tempted to start Ewan in the Tour, but decided to hold him back for his development.

He has won stages before this year in the other two three-week Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

Ewan also has no race wins since February and this hurt his cause, despite an impressive second in March at the Milan-Sanremo classic.

It is the second year running that Mitchelton-Scott have made a massive Tour de France call involving a high-profile Australian rider.

Last year's decision not to take Simon Gerrans was a sure sign he would leave the team.

Gerrans will now shotgun for Porte at the Tour in a powerful BMC lineup.

Ewan comes out of contract at the end of the year and there was already growing speculation that he would leave Mitchelton-Scott.

His most likely destination is Lotto-Soudal, although nothing is confirmed.

Ewan's manager Jason Bakker wants the dust to settle from the Tour selection snub before any decisions are made.

"The important thing is to make sure that decisions are not in haste or emotion," he said.

Bakker said Ewan is gutted and the rider made his feelings clear on Twitter.

"Devastated is an understatement of how I feel about @MitcheltonSCOTT's decision to leave me at home this July," Ewan said.

"I was on track to being more than ready for my TDF debut.

"So much hard work has gone into this from my sprint team and I to be ready for our big goal this year."

Porte showed he is building well for the Tour by winning the Tour de Suisse earlier this month.

The Tasmanian was in contention last year until he crashed out of the race with serious injuries.

Matthews has said defending his Tour points classification title is not a priority this year.

Instead the focus will be adding to his three Tour stage wins and supporting Team Sunweb leader Tom Dumoulin.

Australian Associated Press