his first notable result among the elite riders came in 1996 when he won the dutch national title behind the derny. it would take him four more years to win another national title. this time he won the madison title alongside his partner robert slippens. the year 2000 turned out to be his final breakthrough year. besides his second national title he also won a silver medal behind the derny and two bronze medals at the points race and time trial. later that year stam and slippens represented the netherlands at the 2000 summer olympics in sydney where they took the 8th spot.