Rags to Riches Robbie

McEwen's story is a remarkable slog of perseverance all the way from Brisbane to Brakel, in Belgium.

Having impressed as an amateur on his European debut, the 1996 Tour de l'Avenir - where McEwen sprinted to two stage victories against professional opposition - he was snapped up by Dutch team Rabobank and landed a three-year contract.

McEwen burst into the limelight three years later with his first ever stage victory on the Tour de France, and what a special place to do it: the Champs Elysées.

And yet the win came against the odds. On the outskirts of Paris, McEwen, who in those days cut a slight figure, a mere shadow of the rippled hulk he is today, fell awkwardly and picked up a nasty knock.

But he managed not only to rejoin the peloton for the five laps around Paris, but also to surprise the likes of green jersey Erik Zabel by taking the stage victory.

In a scene that will remain etched in the minds of many, McEwen came to rest over the line just as UK Channel 4's iconic presented Gary Imlach approached the Australian with the words: "Robbie, Robbie, you've done it!"

An exuberant McEwen shouted out loud "I've done it, I've done it, I've done it!" before betraying signs of the grumbling rider with whom we have become accustomed over the years: "I've tried so hard today and suffered so much. I fell, and hurt my wrist... But it's ok because I've just won on the Champs Elysées!"

Despite his glorious scalp on the Champs, things then turned sour for the Australian. Out of contract at Rabobank, McEwen faced time on the sidelines before signing for Domo Farm Frites.

Two years, and no Tour de France wins, on and McEwen found himself in the same predicament as 1999 after the previous year's world champion Romans Vainstains was preferred as leader of the Domo Farm Frites team.

McEwen returned to Australia but then earned a surprise recall to Europe in October 2001 when Lotto team manager Jos Brackeveldt snapped him up on a short term contract having looked over the 2002 Tour de France itinerary.

It proved to be a worthy 'gamble' for the Belgian team: McEwen won two stages on the 2002 Giro d'Italia, followed by a further two victories in the Tour plus the prestigious green jersey.

Another green jersey followed in 2004, as well as memorable doubles in both the Giro and the Tour. And last year things got even better, with De Kangeroe van Brakel - as McEwen affectionately became known by his adopted homeland - jumping to three victories in both events.

McEwen, with his trademark wheelie over the line when completing the 2004 individual time trial on Alpe d'Huez, quickly endeared himself to cycling aficionados all around the world - despite earning the wrath of some riders closer to home.

In the 2005 World Championships in Madrid, compatriot Stuart O'Grady refused to be part of Australia's road-race team when it became clear the Oakley-wearing sprinter would be granted the position as team leader.

O'Grady said: "It's no secret that McEwen and I are not the greatest of friends. We try to get on when we're with the Australia squad, but I could not keep this up much longer."

Success, however, keeps on coming for McEwen, now in his 35th year. After three wins in the Giro in May, McEwen has set his targets on replicating this on the Tour, and Thursday's 225-km foray from Beauvais to Caen could provide the ideal opportunity for the pocket Hercules to nail his hat-trick in only the opening week of the Tour.

Another win would put McEwen's career total of Tour stage wins to 11, just one behind Erik Zabel of Germany, and retired riders Miguel Indurain of Spain and Mario Cipollini of Italy. Only legends Lance Armstrong (22 wins), Bernard Hinault (28), Freddy Maertens (16) and Eddy Merckx (34) stand ahead.

Asked after winning his second stage on Wednesday whether there was truth in the claim that he was maturing like a fine wine, McEwen, favourite for the green jersey this year, told Eurosport: "It certainly seems that way, but you know, it comes from such a lot of hard work from me and my team."

Having paid tribute to his lead-out lieutenant Gert Steegmans, McEwen said: "I died a thousand deaths on the way to the finish line, but I did it."

He then dedicated his win to American team-mate Fred Rodriguez, who sadly retired from the race after crashing badly in stage 3.

Amongst all the media hype surrounding McEwen and his on-going cataclysmic performances on the world's greatest cycling event, perhaps the most fitting tributes came from the riders themselves, and in particular McEwen's Davitamon-Lotto team-mate and compatriot Cadel Evans.

Evans, himself an outside contender for glory in Paris, wrote on his personal website: "Success AGAIN! Robbie showed yet again that barring bad luck, he is the best bunch spinter in the world right now."

McEwen's sprinting rival Daniele Bennati (Lampre) concurs: "At the moment, there's just nothing any of us can do to beat the Australian."