Aidan Buttigieg

Born and raised in Melbourne, where he took his first rides to and from the beach with his father, the 1997-born Buttigieg has spent a lifetime in cycling — both in the saddle (with amateur and Continental Australian teams) and behind the scenes as a marketing specialist and video engineer for cycling-related companies. His favorite race is an Australian classic, the long-standing Melbourne to Warrnambool, and his favorite rider is also Australian: the adventurous and passionate Lachlan Morton. However, his Maltese heritage runs deep not only in his surname but also in his DNA and heart, thanks to his paternal grandparents from Gozo and his maternal grandparents from Malta’s main island. They emigrated to Australia after World War II but preserved and passed down their traditions and culture to their children and grandson. “One of the fondest memories of my life happened two years ago: using an old photo and a vague street name, I managed to locate the house where my maternal grandfather grew up in the Maltese town of Paola. It was a surreal and wonderful moment, especially when I then showed him the pictures I took and spent hours listening to his memories…” In late summer 2024, Aidan experienced a major career breakthrough as a cyclist. After dominating the Maltese National Championships for two consecutive years and showcasing a rock-solid mentality shaped by his black belt in taekwondo, he was signed by Team Polti Kometa — soon to become Polti Visit Malta — and debuted at the Matteotti trophy. A moment Aidan will never forget: there’s a Maltese cross in the peloton!