The group headed out through the Arch of Victory to Learmonth and back to Little Bridge St two hours and 50km later.

Ride organiser Matt Britton was "pumped" to spin the pedals with an icon of the sport.

"It's quite a buzz,'' he said.

"He's just such a nice guy _ out of all the cyclists I've met he's the nicest one.

"He's just so easy to talk to.''

The Bike Hub manager, with the hint of tongue in cheek, said the "peloton'' of cycling fans more than held their own.

"Actually at one point it was heard that Robbie wanted to slow down,'' Britton said.

This might have had something to do with McEwen helping some back markers claw their way back to the main group, or it could have been because of his sore knee.

But there was no doubt about who won the final "sprint''.

"I think I actually turned in first because there was a coffee on the line,'' McEwen said with a cheeky smile.

And despite nursing a sore knee _ he bumped the knee he injured in the Tour of Belgium last year against the corner of his hotel's wall a few days ago _ he still enjoyed the social ride.

"It's good just to come to somewhere like Ballarat where I don't get to much and have a ride with the locals,'' he said.

"People say they sit up at night and watch the Tour and it's good to have a ride with them.

"And people appreciate it and have said they had a good time.''

McEwen was forced to withdraw from Sunday's road race and will now concentrate on getting his knee ready for the Tour Down Under in South Australia starting January 19.