The 27-year-old is among several Tasmanian cyclists set for moves at the end of the year and said he was optimistic about what the future held.

"I'm not resigned about it," Earle said. "That's the way it goes.

"I've gained invaluable experience and strength from my time at Sky.

"Racing in the world tour has got me excited not discouraged, so that's a good thing.

"I'm looking forward to a new chapter in 2016 with new opportunities and challenges.

"I'm going forward full of confidence and keen to use my experience to help my new team to bigger and better things.

"There are positives and negatives about this situation but the positives far outweigh the negatives."

Sky this week confirmed its team of 29 riders for 2016, spearheaded by two-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome and newly-crowned time trial world champion Vasil Kiryienka, with Earle, of Hobart, joining Launceston's Richie Porte plus Bernhard Eisel, Danny Pate, Kanstantsin Siutsou and Chris Sutton among the "departing riders".

Earle could not confirm which team he would be representing in 2016, or even what level of licence it held, but speculation on social media suggested he could be joining fellow Tasmanians Will Clarke and Bernie Sulzberger at Australian pro-continental team Drapac.

Earle enjoyed two years at Sky having joined on Porte's recommendation following impressive results in the 2013 National Road Series, the New Zealand Cycle Classic, Tour de Taiwan and Tour of Japan with Andrew Christie-Johnston's Hobart-based team.

His last race was the Grand Prix de Montreal in Canada earlier this month having raced in Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Germany and France in August.

Earle rated helping teammate Lars Nordhaug win the Tour de Yorkshire in May as among his proudest achievements with Sky.

Porte's well-publicised move to Cadel Evans' former team BMC is among the highest profile exchanges in the world tour peloton.

Launceston's former Milan-San Remo winner Matt Goss could also be on the move this summer.

The 28-year-old multiple grand tour stage winner was this week named in MTN-Qhubeka's team for the five-stage Tour de Eurometropol in Belgium, which begins on Wednesday and is said to be tailor-made for sprinters.

Goss joined the Italian-based South African-registered pro-continental team last year after eight seasons in the world tour but his contract expires at the end of this year.