Webster poised to shake up cycling world

Auckland teen Sam Webster won three gold medals at the junior world track championships in Russia last week. Photo / Getty Images

Justin Grace has an appointment to keep at his nearest NZ Land Transport Agency office this week.

Grace has to replace his car registration plate after a promise made to emerging cycling star Sam Webster before the Auckland teenager swept all before him at the junior world track championships in Russia last week.

The five-time New Zealand sprint champion has driven around for the past year or so with his number plate 10.261 proudly displayed for all to see.

But Grace, now the national sprint cycling coach, needs to replace the plate because it is bound for Webster's bedroom wall.

"I told him he could have the plate to put on his bedroom wall if he beat my national record time," Grace said of Webster, who did just that when posting a super slick 10.205 seconds in the individual sprint in Moscow.

Webster had a stunning championships, winning gold in the individual sprint, the keirin and the teams sprint alongside Ethan Mitchell and Cameron Karwowski as New Zealand riders enjoyed unprecedented success at such a major meet on the world stage.

He returned home with his teammates today and is already planning for the future, which in his track lane means riding at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

And no one is discounting the 18-year-old shaking up the established order once he joins the elite ranks this year.

The shift from the junior to open ranks represents a quantum leap for any cyclist, but Grace is confident Webster has it in him to forge a highly successful career among the world's elite.

"It is such a huge step up," Grace said.

"It is like going from top level club rugby to the All Blacks.

"But Sam has what it takes to make that step. He rides like he is a world class, elite rider already."

Grace has personally overseen Webster's development for the past year and even his jaw has dropped at the youngster's potential.

Webster is in just his third season as a sprinter and his development graph has only spiralled upwards.

"Even from the age of 15 or 16 you could see that he had a great amount of natural ability. That's not too uncommon. It's just that he has not stopped, he keeps getting better and better."

Webster has made remarkable progress in a short period of time, so much so that Grace has taken a punt and registered a pro sprinting team with the International Cycling Union.

Now he needs to attract the support of sponsors so the riders, including Webster, can race at elite level at the Oceania championships in Invercargill in November as well as World Cup meets in Beijing and Melbourne before Christmas.

The emergence of sprinters such as Webster and others breaks with tradition, because New Zealand's star trackies such as Sarah Ulmer and Hayden Roulston have historically excelled in the endurance-based pursuit events.

Webster is happy to be at the forefront of what he calls a revolution, and genuinely excited about his impending promotion to the open ranks.

"We have not just been focusing on under-19 races. We have always looked at the long term progression, as well as the short term results," the Auckland Grammar year 13 student said.

"Rather than trying to win every single race that I enter, we've gone in with the approach that if I lose I learn.

"There have been lessons learned along the way which paid off by me winning these three world titles."

Along the way he has marvelled at the facilities used overseas, which have really broadened his horizons beyond the uncovered concrete velodrome track at Manukau where he has honed his talent.

Ahead of the world championships this month Webster and other BikeNZ cyclists trained at the world cycling centre in Switzerland.

"That was a great experience. To see the world record board and photos of all the past great cyclists and their achievements was quite inspirational.

"Then to race on the track in Moscow used for the 1980 Olympics took it to another level.

"It is definitely a bit different from the Manukau velodrome."

Webster is not at all daunted at the prospect of taking on his elders and, for the time being, his betters in elite competition.

"I am looking forward to it. I don't see it as anything to be scared of. It will be a challenge and I really want to give it a crack."

- NZPA