case study - Sam Greenwell. moving to Belgium and becoming a pro

I first met Sam and his father during his final year as a Youth rider, when he was riding for Solihull CC. Even at that stage, Sam was ambitious and determined to succeed, but he also understood that young riders develop at different rates. At around 45kg, he was often one of the smaller riders in the field and therefore didn't have the same size or strength advantage as some of his bigger Youth competitors.

Rather than seeing this as a limitation, we looked at how it could become an advantage in the longer term. Young riders who can rely on size and power can sometimes develop without needing to learn how to conserve energy and use it effectively. For a smaller rider like Sam, learning to ride efficiently, pick his moments and make the most of his available power was a skill that could become increasingly valuable as he progressed through the age groups.

During his final year as a Youth, we focused on developing both his FTP and his ability to produce short, sharp efforts — his 'punch'. This was particularly important for the short, technical and often aggressive circuit races that characterise much of the UK junior pathway. Sam continued to compete across road, track and cyclo-cross, winning a circuit race on a tight, punchy course and becoming increasingly competitive at national level.

''When I first started working with Tom it was a new experience. Having a coach for the first time reassured me I was doing the right training for my age. It wasn’t about pushing full gas at 14, instead it was about developing over the years physically and tactically.''

A Move to Belgium

The next major step in Sam's development came with a move to Belgium and into the Junior ranks. Moving to one of the world's cycling heartlands exposed him to a completely different racing environment. The longer and harder races, combined with the short, steep climbs and relentless nature of racing in the Ardennes, provided exactly the type of challenge that suited his developing strengths.

His progression was rapid. Sam earned selection for the prestigious Tour du Valromey, often regarded as the 'Junior Tour de France', giving him the opportunity to test himself against some of the best young riders in the world.

He continued to develop and achieve results in Belgian national-level racing, winning both the Triptyque Ardennais and Tour du Condroz. He also recorded two top-10 finishes in UCI races, demonstrating that his progress was translating into results at a higher level.

''Tom has been a huge help in my journey towards my goal as a professional. He not only sets the trainings but also provides advice on racing. A key piece of advice that sticks out was about conserving your energy when you don’t have the raw power. Knowing when to follow the wheels and when to use the power you have. I would highly recommend Tom as a coach!''

Making the Step Towards the Pros

That progression ultimately led to Sam signing for the Lotto-Groupe Wanty Continental Team in 2026 — a huge milestone and the next stage of his development as a professional cyclist.

At this point, Sam's day-to-day coaching has been taken over by the team, but we continue to take a keen interest in his progress and are incredibly proud to have played a part in his journey.

Sam's story is a great example of why development in cycling shouldn't be judged solely by results or physical size at a young age. The characteristics that initially appeared to be disadvantages — being smaller and having less raw power than some of his peers — encouraged him to develop efficiency, race craft and the ability to use his energy intelligently.

From a 45kg Youth rider racing for Solihull CC to earning a professional contract in Belgium, Sam has shown what can happen when development is viewed as a long-term process rather than a race against the clock.

The original stretch goal was simple: could Sam one day compete in the Tour de France?

He's already taken some pretty significant steps towards making that dream a reality.