Rohan Dennis made the unusual decision to change teams midway through the season, when he left Garmin-Sharp to join the BMC team. He says he made the move to help himself in the future, to give him the best chance of fulfilling his dream of winning a national title.

“It’s a huge bonus that I got to get all my bikes six months before nationals in Australia,” Dennis told Cycling Weekly in Melbourne.

“That transitional period from August through to September, start of October, is going to help me a lot for next year.”

Dennis admitted he didn’t even know his move was possible until he looked into it, but it paid dividends, as he was part of the BMC squad that took gold at the World Championship Team Time Trial.

“I didn’t know it was possible unless there were circumstances where a team wasn’t paying you and they were breaking contract,” Dennis said of his uncommon move.

“I think it’s where the sport needs to go, or at least have it where you change … straight after the last race of the season so you’re not waiting to January 1 and having to change bikes just before nationals.”