Graham Webb facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Graham Webb

Graham Webb in 1967
Personal information
Nickname	Black Raven
Born	(1944-01-13)13 January 1944 England, United Kingdom
Died	28 May 2017(2017-05-28) (aged 73)
Team information
Discipline	Track & Road
Role	Rider
Major wins
World Amateur RR Champion Several national records

Graham Paul Webb (born January 13, 1944 – died May 28, 2017) was an English racing cyclist. He became the world amateur road race champion in 1967. When a journalist mentioned that the last British amateur world champion was 45 years ago, Webb famously replied, "They'll have to wait another 45 years before another British rider wins." Interestingly, no British man won a world road race championship in the next 45 years. Also, the amateur championship no longer exists today.

Biography

Early Life and First Rides

Graham Webb was born on January 13, 1944, in Birmingham, England. He was the youngest of five children. As a child, he faced health challenges but grew stronger.

He received his first bicycle at age eight. Graham loved going on very long rides, even if they were tough. He would ride from Birmingham to Gloucester and back. This was a 100-mile (160 km) round trip. He kept trying until he could finish without being totally exhausted. He managed to do it non-stop on his third try. Graham said he simply enjoyed the challenge.

First Race Experience

At 17, Graham entered his first race, a 25-mile (40 km) time trial. He didn't know much about racing rules. He was shy and confused why riders started one by one. He waited until he was called, which made him late for his start time. This meant he got a time penalty.

He wore a T-shirt and regular shoes. Graham thought he had to catch everyone ahead of him to win. Early on, one of his shoes fell off. He had to wait for cars to pass to get it back. He also had a problem with his bike chain. He had to stop and fix it with his tools.

Despite these issues, Graham finished the race. He was surprised to learn he had won! He rode the 25 miles in 1 hour, 1 minute, and 31 seconds. If not for the late start and bike trouble, he would have finished in under an hour. This was a great achievement for a new cyclist.

Racing Achievements

For the next few years, Webb competed in many time trials. He often won mass-start road races too. He also tried to do well with the British national track team.

In 1966, at Salford Park, Birmingham, Graham set new national track records. He set records for 10 miles, 25 miles, and 1 hour. He did this on a bumpy track where records were thought impossible. Spectators even yelled at him to slow down! But Graham kept going and beat the old hour record by about 400 meters. His new record stood for many years.

World Championship Victory

In 1967, Graham and his wife moved to the Netherlands. A Dutch journalist helped him find a club and a place to live. In his first Dutch race, he crashed but still finished 16th. After that, he started winning races regularly. He often rode so fast that he would lap other riders several times.

Graham trained very hard for the World Road Race Championship in 1967. He rode between 200 and 300 kilometers (about 125-185 miles) every day. In the championship race, he joined the main group of riders. He even dropped back to help another British rider, Peter Buckley, catch up. When he returned to the front, a few riders had broken away. Graham led the chase, leaving Buckley behind. He took the lead in a corner near the end and rode away to win the race alone.

Becoming a Professional Cyclist

In 1968, Graham Webb became a professional cyclist. He joined the Mercier team. This team included famous riders like Raymond Poulidor. His professional career started with some bad luck. A shipping strike made him miss his team's first race. Then, his racing equipment was stolen from his car. This happened just two days before his first professional race.

He faced mechanical problems and knee pain in early races. By the time he was fit for the Paris-Nice race, his team leaders had left him behind. He left his bike in a bar and got a ride home from a spectator.

Graham rode for another year as a professional but did not have much success. Later, he opened a bar. He had his world champion's rainbow jersey on display. When it became dirty, he took it down. Graham later worked as a crane operator in a steel factory in Ghent, Belgium. He never moved back to Britain.

Even after his professional career, Graham continued to race as an amateur, especially on the track. He faced a serious health issue but recovered well. Graham was often seen at bike races in Belgium. He also liked to help British riders who wanted to race in Belgium. He was also very passionate about MGB sports cars.

Honours

In 2007, Graham Webb was recognized by his hometown, Birmingham. He was called a famous 'Brummie' on the city's website.

In 2009, he was added to the British Cycling Hall of Fame.

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