New Australian cycling star Matt Goss wants the London Olympics to be payback for his narrow loss at September's world road championships.

Few silver medallists have looked as filthy with the result as Goss did when he stood on the podium at Copenhagen.

British sprint ace Mark Cavendish narrowly beat the 25-year-old Tasmanian to win the elite men's road race.

Goss is now one of the key riders for the new Australian-based GreenEDGE team, which this week received confirmation they have secured a top-level racing licence.

It means GreenEDGE will become the first Australian team to ride in the Tour de France.

While Goss will probably ride in the Tour, the men's Olympic road race that follows a few days after the three-week classic will probably be an even bigger objective.

Cavendish is determined to win gold at his home games and he looms as the rider to beat in the road race.

"To finish second by that much is painful," Goss said of the worlds loss.

"It mainly sunk in when I walked through the airport the other day and I saw the picture on RIDE magazine with Cavendish (as world champion) on the front.

"I looked at it and that's when it sank in more ... it does make you a little bit hungry.

"I'd be happy to try and take it back off Cav in London if we can do that."

Winning the world title would have been the ideal finish to Goss's racing year.

He came of age in 2011, becoming the first Australian to win the Milan-San Remo classic.

Along with his strong form this year, Goss is one of the key riders at GreenEDGE and there will be plenty of pressure on him next year.

GreenEDGE are deliberately targetting one-day races and stage wins rather than high overall tour placings.

That means riders such as Goss, a sprinter and a strong allrounder, will be their best chances for big results.

"It's part of the job, I guess, when you take on a role like I'm going to take - a little bit more leadership," he said.

Another feature of Goss's second placing at the world titles was the pre-race controversy over Mark Renshaw, who did not make the Australian team.

Goss, Renshaw and Cavendish were all team-mates at HTC Highroad, who were renowned for their domination of sprint finishes.

But HTC surprisingly folded and the trio are now on different teams, with Renshaw at Rabobank and Cavendish at Sky.

"It's going to be exciting," Goss said of next year's sprint rivalry.

Goss will start his 2012 campaign on January 1, when he starts the defence of his Jayco Bay Classic criterium series title.

He will also be a key rider at next month's national titles and then Adelaide's Tour Down Under.

"There's definitely going to be a bit of pressure next year, we're an Australian team starting from scratch," he said.

Roger Vaughan
AAP