Robbie McEwen

Robbie was born on 24 June, 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Very early, he showed the traits of being a winner on the bike. He started his career riding BMX races and his first team was Surfers Paradise Cycling Club from his native Gold Coast.

On the BMX, Robbie was Australian Junior Champion. At 18yrs, he switched to road racing. Robbie's plans to become a teacher were put to rest as Australia’s "Kangaroo of *Brakel", clearly had a future as a cyclist.

The cycling world soon discovered that he is an impressive sprinter. In 1994, Robbie was selected for the first time in the Australian National Road Team.

After a successful two years with the Aussie team where he won 50 races; Robbie was ready to take the next step in his career.

In 1996, he signed his first professional contract with Holland's Rabobank and found a niche in Brakel, Belgium where he would met his future bride, Angélique Pattyn. They met when Robbie was buying contact lenses in the Pattyn's family optical shop.

Professionally, things were running quite well with Robbie collecting many victories. He was named Australian Road Cyclist of the year in 1999, 2002 and 2005 and is known as one of the fastest sprinters in the world. In 2002, 2004 and 2006, he won the prestigious Green Jersey in the Tour de France, the first Aussie to achieve it.

In 2002, Robbie was also on the podium of the World Championship in Zolder, with the silver medal around his neck. He has twice been Australian champion, bagged 11 stages in the Tour de France, 11 stages in the Giro d'Italia, 3 times Paris-Brussels, Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.

In his private life, the birth of his son Ewan, on 10 May, 2002 was unforgettable, as was the start of the Belgian season in 2006. The night before the 'Omloop Het Volk' race, Elena was born, the first daughter for Robbie and Angélique and a sister for Ewan.

Robbie is also involved in industrial development.