By Chris Dutton
Canberra cyclist Mathew Hayman joked he felt like a kid on the first day at school at the AIS on Thursday, but the reality is the 38-year-old veteran is like a fine wine getting better with age.
That's why Hayman, the Australian cyclist of the year, is refusing to put an end-date on a decorated career after reaching dizzy heights this year.
Mathew Hayman trains with the Orica-BikeExchange team at the AIS on Thursday.Credit: Karleen Minney
Hayman and his Orica-BikeExchange teammates are in the capital for the start of pre-season testing and used the institute's state-of-the-art laboratories to ramp up training.
Hayman enjoyed the best year of his career in 2016, winning the famous Paris-Roubaix race and claiming the Sir Hubert Opperman Medal as Cycling Australia's best at an awards ceremony last week.
Cyclist Mathew Hayman is not considering retirement just yet.Credit: Karleen Minney
It comes almost 20 years after he started racing professionally and he knows the end is around the corner.
But Hayman is pushing any retirement thoughts to the back of his mind to focus on backing up in 2017.
"I didn't think I would win Paris-Roubaix, my race was something you dream about. I figured I was getting on in my career and the chances [to win] had probably already been," Hayman said.
"I'm still pinching myself seven months later. I think I'm in denial a bit [about when it will end], I'm 38 now going into my 18th year as a professional.
"I probably should be sitting down and looking at that carefully, but at the moment I still enjoy racing and like training.
"It's a hard sport and the moment I stop enjoying it, I think I'll have to give it away. After a season like I had this year, I'm definitely racing in 2017 and we'll see beyond that.
"I realise how hard the sport is ... I don't think I'll walk away easily. It's been such a big part of my life."
Hayman is based in Belgium but will take on the role of Canberra tour guide for his Orica-BikeExchange teammates as they use the AIS to lay down markers for the year ahead.
They spent Thursday riding a simulated race of the 2017 world championship course in Norway.
Hayman will meet with team staff this week to map out his schedule for the 2017 season, which will likely include Spring Classics and the defence of his Paris-Roubaix title.
Hayman almost didn't race in the Paris-Roubaix after breaking his arm six weeks before the start.
But the triumph will go down as the best of his career and sits alongside his 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal as major highlights.
"I thought it would be tough to ever get [the Oppy], the list of riders are truly the great riders of Australian cycling," Hayman said.
"You have to do something pretty special to get on that list ... it wasn't something I expected and it was a pretty emotional night."