JULIUS Peters is a young cyclist riding an average of 300km a week as he aims to one day race on the professional circuit in Europe.

Peters is in Year 12 at Warwick State High School and rides between three and five hours each day.

"I ride even longer on the weekend when I am not competing," Peters said.

His mobile phone voice message says it all, "you have reached Julius, I am currently riding my bike".

Last month, he won his first state medal at under-19 level, silver in the State Individual Time Trial Championships at Gympie.

Peters finished ninth in the Queensland Road Racing Championships held on a course from Swan Creek to Freestone and Warwick in late August.

The 17-year-old is part of a group of 60 cyclists who train each Wednesday at 5.50pm at the Warwick District Sporting Car Club Track at Morgan Park.

On other days, he trains solo on the road and then rides in larger groups at the weekend.

Peters is a strong supporter of the Warwick riders group which is pushing the "a metre matters" message.

"We are asking motorists to keep a metre away from cyclists on the road," Peters said.

"Warwick cyclists have it good compared to city riders when it comes to co-operation from motorists; we occasionally have a close call which is rather scary."

He has only been riding seriously for two years.

"Come hell or high water, I want to ride in Europe," Peters said.

"I plan to be at the world championships next year in an area of Belgium only 30km from where my father grew up."

Fellow Warwick rider Tony Simonelli won his age group at Gympie in a time of 29 minutes, 20 seconds, for 20kms.

Simonelli said Peters had a lot of ability and a high power-to-weight ratio, an important factor in road and tour riding.

"He is good up hills," Simonelli said.

"Julius will ride in a team in the state road series next year."

Yesterday Simonelli was travelling to Ballarat for the Masters National Road Championships which start on Thursday.

Simonelli is in the time trial, criterium and road race in masters 4 (45-49 years).

Last year, he was fifth in the time trial in Ballarat and is confident he can improve four places this year.

"I am going a lot quicker," he said.

"My son Matthew lives in Brisbane and has changed my training ideas and program and it is working."