ORICA-GreenEDGE have announced Australians Mitch Docker and Damien Howson will continue riding with the outfit into the 2016 season.

Docker, who has signed for his fifth and sixth seasons with the team, is looking forward to establishing himself as a key member of the Classics squad and sprint train team.

“Over the past four years ORICA-GreenEGDE has given me the confidence to develop myself as a key lead out man and to continue to explore and develop my Classics ambitions,” Docker said. “I hope the next two years will continue to see improvement in both of those roles as well as more time to learn from the experience of our team captains, like Matt Hayman, to take the next step.”

“The atmosphere, with the competitive yet free and easy-going Australian mentality combined with a nice mix of straight European approach, makes this team a fun and successful environment to work and spend time in.”

Former world under-23 time trial champion Howson, who signed on for 2016, said he was pleased to get another season to continue his development.

“The team has looked after me really well for the first two years of my professional career and it’s an honour to stay for another year and be able to see further progression,” Howson said. “I think I have coped with the step up (from under-23) quite well and I finished my first Grand Tour this year which was another little milestone that I have been able to complete.”

“I feel I am constantly taking steps forward in the sport and I think three years as a professional is probably an optimum time frame to see yourself at the pointy end of races - whether that is helping the leaders further into races or getting a few results for myself, that’s something I can target next year."

Sport director Matt White is looking forward to the pair's return in 2016.

“Mitch is a crucial around our sprinters and our Classics group – they are the two areas that are most important,” White said. “He will have more responsibility over the next two years now he is starting to be one of the elder statesmen of the team.”

“We have very young sprinters, particularly Caleb Ewan, and we saw during the Vuelta how crucial Mitch was to Caleb’s success there.

“And Damien, who turned 23 this year, has had a pretty normal progression through his first two years as a pro,” White continued.

“He proved at the Vuelta this year that he is up for the standard of the WorldTour and we are going to give him another year to continue that development.”

Mitch Docker
Date of birth: 2nd October 1986 (29)
Nationality: Australian
Turned pro: 2009

Palmares:
- 1st 2014 Giro d’Italia – Stage 1 (TTT)
- 3rd 2015 & 2014 Vuelta a Espana – Stage 1 (TTT)

Damien Howson
Date of birth: 13th August 1992 (23)
Nationality: Australian
Turned pro: 2014

Palmares:
- 3rd 2015 Vuelta a Espana – Stage 1 (TTT)
- 3rd 2014 National Championsips Australia – Time Trial
- 1st 2013 UCI Road Cycling World Championships Under 23 – Time Trial