One Way Road

The autobiography of three-time Tour de France green-jersey winner Robbie McEwen

I am a sprinter. And to understand why I was so good at it, you need to know that, mostly, people have got me wrong.

Robbie McEwen’s reputation as a ‘competitive little bugger’ and ‘a bit of a hard bastard in the peloton’ is well deserved. When he rode his last professional cycling race at the Tour of California in May 2012, he won the jersey for ‘Most Courageous Rider’. Yet he is at pains to point out that what he has always been channelling is not rage or aggression but a fierce determination and razor-sharp focus.

Here, in his own words, Robbie reveals what has made him one of the most successful road cyclists of the last 20 years, winning over a hundred professional races and three Tour de France green jerseys. From his first professional racing team, Rabobank, right up to his last, Orica-GreenEDGE, this is the complete picture of the inimitable sprinter.

In a new Postscript to his acclaimed autobiography, Robbie reflects on the successes of GreenEDGE, the fledgling Australian professional team that made waves by winning the Tour Down Under in January 2012, to which he is now a technical adviser.

About the Authors

Robbie was born on June 24th 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland. Very early, he showed the traits of being a winner on the bike. He started his career riding BMX races and quickly became Australian Junior Champion. At the age of 18, he switched to road races. Robbie's plans to become a teacher were forgotten; our 'Kangaroo of Brakel' clearly had a future as a cyclist. Everybody soon discovered that he as an impressive sprint. Four years later, 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 meet his future bride, Angélique Pattyn. Robbie was three times names Australia's Road Cyclist of the year and is still 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 Australian to achieve it. Robbie currently rides for the GreenEDGE team. He lives in Australia with his wife, Angelique and their three children. This is his first book.

Edward Pickering is a cycling writer and deputy editor of Cycle Sport Magazine. He has reported extensively on the international road-cycling scene, including eight Tours de France.He is also the author of The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Cycling.