Robert Millar - Early Life

Early Life

Unrelated to cycling namesake, David Millar, Robert Millar was raised in Glasgow. At one time destined for a career as a factory engineer, Millar attended Shawlands Academy in the south of the city. He initially began riding for Glenmarnock Wheelers cycling club and quickly established himself as a leading amateur road racing rider. As a relatively small man meaning he had comparatively less weight to carry uphill, it was as a specialist hill & mountain cyclist that he was to excel. He won the Scottish junior title in 1976 and was Scottish hill-climb champion the following year. In 1978, Millar established himself on the British scene. He was 21st in the Milk Race, and won the British amateur road race championship.

Willie Gibb, a Scottish National Road Champion, recalls the introverted Millar growing up, 'Even at school he had a total disregard for what people thought of him and he was very obstinate,' explains Gibb. "I mean, I knew him from when we were at primary school and at fifteen you would say he was a bit odd and that didn't change all the time I knew him. He was a loner and he put off a lot of people in Scotland with his attitude"

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