THREE cyclists who could lay claim to being the most experienced pro riders Launceston has produced have contrasting reasons to be looking ahead to next season.
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While world tour stalwarts Richie Porte and Matt Goss spoke this week about their reasons for switching teams, veteran Karl Menzies embarks on another familiar campaign in his 39th year.
American pro cycling team UnitedHealthcare announced its 2016 men's roster on Friday and while it talked up its "youthful enthusiasm" it retained the reliable services of the Michigan-based sprinter and criterium specialist.
Described on the team website as "a Tasmanian strongman", "seasoned veteran" and "integral component to the team's success", the 86-kilogram father-of-two has spent a decade with the team enjoying success in events including speed week, the national criterium calendar and US crits series.
"Menzies' ability to hold such high speeds at the end of a race has been instrumental to so many victories for Team UnitedHealthcare through the years," the website concluded.
They may be nearly a decade younger, but Goss and Porte are just as experienced in elite pelotons and both adapting to personal changes, the former as a new dad, the latter having recently got married.
Goss, who turns 29 in November, announced this week that his involvement in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour will be his last race with MTN-Qhubeka.
"I think it's a given that I won't be staying with the MTN team next year," he told Cyclingnews. "I've been speaking to a couple of teams and I should have something to announce in the next two weeks. We've got an agreement, but not put the pen on the paper yet. I'll still be racing in Europe and will still be doing a lot of the same races as usual."
After two frustrating seasons with Australian outfit Orica-GreenEdge, the 2011 Milan-San Remo winner and world championship silver medallist fared little better with the African team, failing to deliver the expected results or even selections, including to the Tour de France.
"It's been a bit a of a difficult season. I had crashes at bad times.
"The form was good for Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, but then I crashed in Waregem, dislocated two ribs and moved a disc in my neck that was pinching a nerve down my arm, so I couldn't ride for a week. I need to be at 125 per cent of my form to be good at the classics, but I missed nearly a week of training in the middle, so I had no chance.
"I tried to build-up via the Tour of California and then the World Ports race and ZLM Tour, but I crashed at three kilometres to go at the World Ports Classic, when we were doing 60km/h. That knocked me back again.
"It's been a frustrating season and that's why I want to change teams, get some new scenery and make a fresh start. I know that every athlete has to overcome setbacks as they try to move forward in their careers. It's definitely been tough, but I look forward and hope I can make a change.
"I want to win bike races again, that's why I ride a bike. If I wasn't hungry to still win races, I'd be back at home, on the sofa, watching cycling on television. I still want to win and want to win big, that's why I keep trucking at it."
An ever-present through Sky's last four Tour de France campaigns, which yielded three wins, Porte said his high-profile move to BMC had more behind it than just increased grand tour responsibility.
"I'm not leaving a team that I've been so happy at to go and ride the Giro again next season. I want to peak for July and the Tour de France," said the 30-year-old two-time Paris-Nice winner.
"And with it being an Olympic year, I'd love to do the Games. From what I've heard it's going to be a hard course out in Rio and one that suits the climbers both for the road race and the time trial.
"Being an Australian I'd like to start the year with BMC in Australia. From what I've read the Tour Down Under will be quite a hard race with more climbs, so I can't think of a better way to start the season with that race and then nationals."
A similar strategy paid off this season with Porte finishing second to Rohan Dennis at the TDU and then pipping his new teammate to the Australian time trial title.
Porte, 30, reiterated that he is unconcerned about potentially sharing leadership with American Teejay van Garderen and excited about going head-to-head with long-time team leader and two-time Tour champion Chris Froome.
"Froome is the Grand Tour rider of our generation. He's the best. I've massive respect for him on and off the bike. It's going to be weird for me next season when I'm racing against him and Team Sky and I'm certainly not leaving them on bad terms, I'm still a fan of that team."
As for whether he can beat the Brit, Porte added: "I'm not sure, but I need to give myself the chance of trying. He's a brilliant athlete, so let's just see. I'm not sure he really has a weakness though."
The battle to Paris unofficially begins on October 20 when next year's Tour route is unveiled.