This speedy Aussie is viewed as the fastest sprinter in the world and has plenty to prove after his main rival Tom Boonen took the Green Jersey last year.
Boonen won't be racing this year though as he tested positive for cocaine.
McEwen is a hero back in his homeland having become the first Australian to win the overall sprint competition of the Tour de France back in 2002 and since then he's gone from strength to strength.
The 34-year-old, who is now part of the Predictor-Lotto team, reclaimed his title of the Tour's champion sprinter in 2004 having edged out Norway's Thor Hushovd and Erik Zabel of Germany - a remarkable achievement considering it was revealed he had suffered fractures to two vertebra early in the event.
In 2006 McEwen did it again having lost out in 2005 to Hushovd, proving he has the hunger and desire to keep coming back and winning multiple honours.
In addition to these incredible achievements he also won the silver medal at the World Championship in Zolder following his excellent road race performance - but how did he initially set out on this journey to stardom?
It all began on a BMW bike, on which he combined his natural talent with hard work to become the Australian Junior Champion. But at the age of 18 he stepped up a level to road races and it wasn't long before others were trailing in the wake of his sprinting power.
In 1994 he was selected in the Australian National Road Team and just two years later, with 50 race wins under his belt, he signed a professional deal with Dutch team Rabobank and from there he never looked back as he continued to develop into the sprinter he is today.
Robbie has 12 Tour Stage wins to his name including the sprint on Stage one to Canterbury last year. However, he was forced out of the race when he failed to finish Stage Eight within the time limit. He'll be looking to improve on that this year.
