Roberts, 32, carries a bucket load of Olympic, Commonwealth and world championship gold medals, but slipped off the radar after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he was a member of Australia's fourth-placed pursuit team.

A season concentrating on the lucrative European six-day circuit, followed by a serious crash in February resulting in a broken hip, has seen Roberts endure an exceptionally quiet year on road.

However, he has signed a 12-month contract with German Protour team Milram and yearns to again ride the Tour de France, which he contested in 2005.

Roberts will line up in two events at the nationals _ the 39km time trial championship at Buninyong on Wednesday and 163km road race at Buninyong on Sunday, January 10.

Roberts, who is originally from South Australia, first contested the national time trial championship at Buninyong in 2004, finishing third behind five-time winner Nathan O'Neill.

"This time I am definitely ready to roll," Roberts said yesterday.

"I will be going to Buninyong with the best form I have ever had.

"I have had my break and I have been training solidly since mid-October, something which I've never done before.

"I realise the opposition will be tough, especially in the time trial where young gun Cameron Meyer will be hard to beat.

"He is a huge talent, but I would like to win a national title on the road before I retire."

Roberts, who lives in Cologne with wife Sylvia and 12-month-old daughter Zoe, might get another crack at the Tour de France this year.

Milram has told him he will ride the Tour of Italy in May as lead-out rider for crack sprinter Gerald Ciolek, a multiple Tour de France stage placegetter.

"If things go well in the Giro, the Tour de France is a real possibility," said Roberts, who arrived back in Australia on Tuesday.

Roberts has been a teams pursuit specialist on the track.

Roberts won Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, teaming up with Stuart O'Grady, Bradley McGee and Graeme Brown.

He has also won teams pursuit gold medals at three world championships and two Commonwealth Games.

Add two individual pursuit silver medals at world championships and Roberts stands high on the pedestal as one of Australia's most successful track cyclists of all time.

He still has burning goals on the road though.