Cycling: Tour de France ride next goal

Sam Bewley enjoying some time back in New Zealand after a season racing in Europe. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua pro cyclist Sam Bewley hopes to race the Tour de France within the next couple of years, after a strong season riding for Australian team Orica-GreenEdge.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed an injury-free season this year after a couple of tough seasons marred by broken bones and other injuries.

"I had a really bad 12-month run where I had three or four operations and five or six broken bones, so it made things pretty tough," he said. "I missed nearly two full seasons just with racing on and off. But this year I did not have any injuries that stopped me from training or racing."

As a result, he was able to produce some top performances for Orica-GreenEdge, including a stage win at the Giro d'Italia during the team time trial event.

"That was the highlight of my career outside of the Olympics and it was my first professional win."

He was rewarded for his form in October when Orica-GreenEdge offered him a two-year deal.

"The last couple of years I have been on one-year deals, so to sign for two years is sort of a testament to how I'm going."

Bewley has won two bronze medals at the Olympics as a track cyclist but said he did not have plans to go back to the track discipline anytime soon.

Bewley said he was down to race the Giro d'Italia again in May and he wanted to race at the Tour de France within the next couple of seasons. He is also an outside chance to go the Olympics next year as a road cyclist.

Bewley said he felt he was developing well as a rider and was currently coached by fellow Rotorua cyclist Julian Dean, who also works with Orica-GreenEdge.

"I'm starting to become a bit of an all-rounder. Obviously I'm a tall guy so I don't climb as good as those guys that weigh 55kg, but I'm starting to climb pretty well for my size and I'm good in the lead outs for the sprints," he said.

"And I think in a grand tour that can help. I can help on the flat stages and help on the mountain stages as well."

Bewley will race in the Big Save Elite Road National Championships in Napier early next month.

He has been part of the Orica-GreenEdge team since it was established in 2012.