Robbie McEwen used this weekend’s GreenEDGE presentation ahead of the forthcoming Tour Down Under to flame suspicions that he will take a supporting role in the proposed Zoolander sequel following his retirement from carrying around bidons in the pro peloton.
McEwen working on his Blue Steel catwalk impression. "Nice kit..."
Showing off cheek bones sharp enough to slice sushi, McEwen beamed at the cameras while sporting GreenEDGE’s fetching inaugural kit for their debut season in the WorldTour.
Asked whether he would be joining Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the 2013 sequel – working title “Zoolycra” – the Australian pocket-rocket answered “no comment” before pointedly looking towards the camera, sucking in his cheeks and giving the bluest Astana blue of Blue Steel impressions.
Rumours first spread of McEwen’s involvement in the Zoolander project after the rider developed a strong relationship with Lance Armstrong while training with RadioShack last season.
Armstrong, who is best friends with Stiller, is thought to have introduced his two chums at the christening of his fifth child, Olivia Marie, whose mother’s maiden name just so happens to be Hansel.
Stiller, who plays dopey male model Derek Zoolander in the hit 2001 film, was instantly taken by McEwen’s angular bone structure and is believed to have opened the doors to a possible Hollywood career once the illustrious McEwen hangs up his cycling shoes.
Sources from the close-knit Screenwriters’ Guild in Los Angeles suggest McEwen would appear as Belgian swimwear model Karl-Heinz Doppmöller, a catwalk rookie who somehow manages to invent a new pose – Big Ring – while playing around on Chatroulette.
Cyclismas could not reach Stiller (Twitter’s direct messaging service only works if the desired recipient is also a follower) but the vertically-challenged actor’s Zoolander co-star, Owen Wilson, was happy to give his two cents.
“It’s so great that there’s talk about Bodie McEwing joining the team. There’s always room for a Tour of France polka-dot champion on board and his cheek bones should make Zoolander edgier than Bradley Wiggins’ iPod playlist,” he said while trying to straighten out his nose.
Quizzed again about his involvement in the film, McEwen refused to break the ice. But he did – and this bit is actually true – share his thoughts on the new GreenEDGE kit.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I like it,” he told a room of journalists ahead of Sunday’s Down Under Classic race in Adelaide. “We think we look pretty good,” he continued, his eyes noticeably wandering in the general direction of team-mate Cameron Meyer’s groin.
“The green and gold colours feel right for this Australian project. Plus there’s a bit of black thrown in for Julian Dean. We look the part, now we have to walk the walk,” McEwen concluded.
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Guest correspondent Saddleblaze is live at the Tour Down Under this week and on the ground for Cyclismas. His other gigs include speaking about himself in the third person, penning the popular Eurosport blog “Blazin’-Saddles” for Yahoo UK, and writing a race diary for CycleSport Magazine. Be sure to follow him on twitter @saddleblaze for his unique coverage and clever soundbites.
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