Randwick-Botany to honour McEwen

Robbie McEwen will host four activities east of the Harbour Bridge on the eve of his departure for the European racing season. On Monday, January 23, the Davitamon-Lotto rider will attend a breakfast for NSW Institute of Sport budding star riders at Centennial Park Restaurant and then lead them on a ride through the historic layout.

At 4pm, the schedule of the former Australian BMX junior champion foresees his departure for Heffron Park, Maroubra, where he will be involved with local BMX kids as well as the more serious riders in the ranks of the Randwick Botany and Eastern Suburbs Cycling Clubs and the Bondi Racing and Triathletes' Club (BRATs). The 33 year-old Queenslander will talk rider safety with the BMXers and show some of his style in riding demonstrations.

The Randwick-Botany cycling club will then make McEwen an honorary member and name the Heffron Park raceway's 400m long finishing straight "The Robbie McEwen Straight". McEwen will even leave imprints of his feet in wet cement and sign his name on the surface.

Afterwards, McEwen will meet with 200 guests at Souths Juniors Leagues Club for dinner - tickets for the event are now on sale at Cycling NSW. Each dinner guest will be treated as a member of McEwen's Tour de France team and revealed the preparation for one of the Tour's stages.