In 2014 Italian champion Ivan Santaromita will leave his role as a BMC domestique to get more freedom on the Orica-GreenEDGE team. He wants to honour his jersey by riding well in the two biggest stage races in his home country, the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Giro d'Italia.

Until now, Ivan Santaromita's life has been that of a domestique. In his first three years on Quick Step, he worked tirelessly for riders like Tom Boonen and Paolo Bettini, in his three years with Liquigas, Ivan Basso, Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali benefitted from his services and in the last three years on BMC, he has been riding in support of Cadel Evans, Tejay van Garderen and Philippe Gilbert.

In the 2+13 Italian championships, he got a rare chance to ride for himself and he proved what he is capable of. Joining Michele Scarponi and Davide Rebellin in the decisive breakaway, he exploited the tactical battle between the two stars to launch a well-timed attack close to the finish and earned himself the right to wear one of the most coveted jerseys for a year.

With added confidence, Santaromita has been searching for more room to ride for himself. That's what he will have in 2014 when he will ride in Orica-GreenEDGE colours.

Until now, the Australian team has mostly had a focus on sprints and one-day races but in 2014, the team will take its first small step to become increase its emphasis on GC. In addition to Santaromita, the team has signed talented Colombian climber Johan Esteban Chaves and the Yates brothers Adam and Simon.

Santaromita is looking forward to having more freedom and wants to show off his tricolour jersey in the biggest races in his native Italy.

"I have great expectations for 2014," he told Spaziociclismo. "I will have more room which I can hopefully exploit in the best way. My goal is to honour my jersey in two races which I really want to do well in: the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Giro d'Italia."

Santaromita's good results that also included a stage win in the Giro del Trentino and a 4th place on a Vuelta stage, earned him a selection for the Italian team for the World Championships on home soil. While he didn't have much luck in the actual race, the experience was appreciated by the Italian champion.

"The experience on the national team was not a lucky one as I crashed after 20km and this affected my race," he said. "One of my shoulders still bothers me today. But otherwise it was a great experience. To be part of the national team in Italy made me shiver. The excitement of signing in in front of a cheering stadium will follow me the rest of my life."

Santaromita will start his season in the Tour de San Luis and will ride the Mallorca Challenge, the Tour of Oman, ang the GP Camaiore in preparation of the Tirreno-Adriatico.