Napier on global mission
Grayson Napier freely admits that he never took cycling too seriously when he was at school.
Yes, he participated in the occasional triathlon but his main focus was football and he just rode his bike for fun and to keep fit.
‘‘It was always just an exercise focus when I was younger and the pure enjoyment of living in a country where you can go out for a ride and enjoy the scenery,’’ he said. How things have changed. The 19 year-old former Nayland College student has just signed a year long contract with Australia-based continental team Navitas Satalyst. Though it is not a professional contract, Napier is supplied a road bike, kit and his travel expenses are covered when he heads away for competitions across Australia and Asia. ‘‘It’s basically one level below getting paid a salary. It’s a good level at my age to be at,’’ he explains.
This is where many future professional riders learn their craft and Napier said the goal now is to kick on and, like George Bennett and Jack Bauer, be in a position where riding a bike isn’t a just hobby, it’s a job.
‘‘You see local lads like George and Jack and previous legends like Robin Reid and Chris Nicholson and you want to follow their footsteps. Being able to ride my bike around the world, there’s really nothing in my eyes that would be better than that.
‘‘These guys are such an inspiration to youngsters coming through the ranks and it shows you that it can be done. During a race you can see why they’re professional and how they’re so good. It makes you have a look at the level you need to be at and you can adjust your expectations your training and it really does bring a light to the tunnel of cycling.’’
Realistically Napier knows it could take years of hard work and dedication to become a professional and he might not ever reach that level. But he isn’t going to die wondering, dropping back to part-time hours so he has enough time in the week to get in 20-25 hours of training.
‘‘I’m fully invested into becoming a professional cyclist. It’s more a goal than a dream. For me it’s a goal because it’s achievable.’’
The Navitas Satalyst Racing Team is a West Australian UCI Continental registered cycling team and their focus is on developing young Australian riders. While Napier was born in Brisbane, he has spent 17 years of his life in New Zea- land and his allegiance lies with his adopted country. Under his contract, Napier is expected to race at least five times in Australia and once in Asia this year. He has already competed in the Herald Sun Tour, where he finished eighth on stage three, and in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, a race which farewelled the only Australian to win the Tour de France.
Napier said the Cadel Evans race – which will continue in his honour – was a daunting experience, mainly because it was his first ride in the Navitas Satalyst colours. ‘‘I was pretty nervous especially because I was racing against World Tour guys, guys who you’ve watched on TV. It was an honour but then of course you’ve got to click on to doing well in the race, forgetting that these guys are Tour de France champions and world champions.’’
Though he was unable to finish the race, with his legs ‘‘blowing out’’, Napier was pleased with his next hit-out in the Herald Sun Tour, highlighted by the top 10 finish on the third stage.
‘‘Those two races were a big step up from where I’ve raced before the year previous. I’m happy with where the legs are at, it’s still early in the season. Hopefully I should be able to have bloody good form by April so I can produce some good results for the team.’’
Every rider wants to win stages and win races and as a sprinter Napier is no different, telling team management that his aim was to win stages prior to signing. But he said he is happy to work towards another team mate’s victory if that is his given role. ‘‘Definitely I’m looking for some good results for me and the team this year but being a new team the team comes first and if they ask me to do something I’m more than happy to do it.
‘‘Hopefully the team recognises that I can sprint and hopefully I showed I can keep up with those big guys at the Herald Sun Tour.’’
Napier will not be called upon for the team’s next race, the Tour de Perth, with the Western Australian riders getting preference, but he could see some action in April at the Jayco Adelaide Tour which is the second round of the National Road Series.
In the mean time Napier has been riding for the FreshChoice Richmond Pomeroy’s Tasman Wheelers in the South Island-based Calder Stewart cycling series in a team that includes former Olympians Reid and Nicholson, two riders he looks up to.
He said it was a privileged to ride alongside those two ‘‘legends’’ and he was able to learn plenty from the two experienced campaigners. ‘‘I’m learning as much as I can. They have been to the top end of the sport and they know how to race and how to win races so it’s awesome for the Tasman Wheelers to give me the opportunity to ride when possible.’’
He credited their teaching as a major reason in getting to the stage he is now but the next task is continuing to follow the path they paved to the top of the sport.
‘‘It feels good to know that I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved so far but I’m hungry and willing to get more. I go by the mentality that your hard work will pay off but you need to ride smart and ride hard all of the time. Circumstances might mean I’m not riding my bike next year but I’m just living in the moment and enjoying it while I can.’’