Over the past two seasons Armidale rider Sam Jenner pursued a result that would change his life. That big win - the one that will lead to a professional contract - didn't happen.
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But the upcoming launch of the new season sees the 22-year-old in a new team and ready to have another crack at making the sport his career.
Last month he signed with Sydney-based Team BridgeLane. Two of the team's riders from last year, including Inverell's Dylan Sunderland, have now secured professional contracts.
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Jenner will contest the National Road Championships in Ballarat from January 8-12, competing in the elite division for the first time. He will then contest the Tour Down Under, as part of the national team, from January 16-26.
He said 2019 "wasn't a bad year" for him. "But there wasn't any standout results ... Obviously I wanted to go pro last year. But at the end of the day I just needed a win next to my name, which I didn't have. So, it didn't happen.
"But that's how it goes. I was just happy to get in talks with BridgeLane, and they're pretty confident with my ability."
Jenner's association with the National Road Championships has been fruitful. In 2017 he was the under-23 road race champion, the following year he finished second in the time trial (under-23) and last year he came third in both the time trial and the road race (under-23).
He is unsure how he will perform among elite company. "I'm looking forward to the challenge. The longer races suit me a bit better. And there's a lot more tactics involved in the elite race than in the under-23 [race], which is also good for me.
"I'm happy and I've got good form. But at the end, your versing professionals ... It [the road race] will be a good race to see how I stack up against the rest of them, really."
Jenner only rode internationally last year. He said Team BridgeLane would have a sharper international focus this year.
"It's hard for Australian cyclists at the moment, especially under-23," he said, "because there's no program for you. Or there's no funding to go towards what you do.
"So everything you do is either out of your own pocket, or you have to pack up and go overseas, which is what I did last year.
"And I think this year's more or less the same as I did last year. But it's just more of an Australian influence [at BridgeLane] and, I suppose, a bit more help from back home."
The Tour Down Under, Jenner said, provided him with an opportunity to shine before the biggest teams in the world.
