Wollongong's Josie Talbot may be preparing for a European adventure later this year, but the 23-year-old has her eyes focused on a more immediate challenge.
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This week's Tour Down Under.
The competition kicks off with Thursday's 116.3 kilometre opening stage, before two mountain stages on Friday and Saturday and Sunday's criterium through the streets of Adelaide.
Talbot is set to race Australia's signature multi-stage cycling event for the second time and she's eyeing a successful week with Team UniSA-Australia.
"It's my second year racing with Team UniSA-Australia, the goals are clearer, I'm just excited to get started again," Talbot said.
"We'll have team goals that we're still deciding, for my personal goals, I want to see how I'm going and really be a leader within our team. Rachel (Neylan) is more experienced and older than me, so she'll be our leader, hopefully I can help her out with that."
A talented leadout rider, Talbot is set to find herself in a position where she will have to sacrifice her own chances to help a teammate claim a stage victory.
While some may struggle to do so, Talbot said the key to cycling success is putting the team first.
"We're all in tune with each other. We know what would be the best scenario for us to work towards and we have to be honest with ourselves and each other about what makes the team work.
"Everyone has to be on the same page and we have to work together. A teammate's win is just as good as your own win most of the time."
The Tour Down Under comes as Talbot prepares to head to Europe for a full season on the international cycling circuit.
The sprinter will link up with Casa Dorada in March, the team set to contest Europe's biggest races.
Given her inexperience, Talbot is eager to learn as much as she can from her more senior teammates.
"I'm very excited but also very nervous to head to Europe. I'm going to be diving into the deep end, I've never really raced at that level, on the world tour. I'm lucky to have another Australian on the team who will help me and be a mentor, I'm very excited to jump in.
"It's a brand new team, it's their first year racing on the world tour, so it's all very new, but it seems like it's a very positive environment.
"I'm hoping to learn as much as I can, I really don't know what to expect. My main goal is to be the best teammate I can be. Most likely it will be a supporting role the whole year, so I'll try and help out my teammates."
Talbot's contract with Casa Dorada came as her hopes of competing at the Tokyo Olympics were extinguished, the athlete not named on Cycling Australia's long list when it was unveiled last year.
While the cyclist concedes it was disappointing to miss selection, Talbot is optimistic the omission will be a blessing in disguise.
"They've already picked the long list so 2020 is out of the equation, but 2024 is not out of my mind.
"I saw it coming in some ways, so this road opportunity came at a good time. I was able to reset my goals and my focus, it can get repetitive doing track as your only focus.
"I would love to go to the Olympics for track and I think the road will help that in making me stronger and better for when the next cycle comes around."
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Cameron Mee
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
Sports reporter at the Canberra Times
