The Ballarat 22-year-old believes a podium finish in the criterium or road race is a possibility for him.

White said while he did not want to put too much pressure on himself - "that's not good mentally" - he was keen to get a strong result to begin the year.

The reigning national under-23 road race champion will enter the new year well prepared for his move into elite company, having raced against many of his rivals in Australia's biggest tours early last year and the best of his age in the world through 2019.

White is already well progressed with his preparations for the championships on January 8-12.

Since arriving home after representing Australia in the world under-23 road championships in England - his final event after more than four months in Europe - White has found some time to freshen up, train and win a stage of New Zealand's Tour of Southland.

Right now he is with a group of fellow Ballarat riders on a two-week training block in Bright in Victoria's north-east.

White, who will again ride with the continental outfit of Team Bridgelane, said the past year had been a huge learning curve.

He said the 10-stage Tour de l'Avenir - considered the under-23 version of the Tour de France - in August had been the toughest test of the year.

"There was a lot of climbing. Some of the toughest terrain I've seen. It was one for the climbers.."

White said it was satisfying just to finish, having done his job for the Cycling Australia team he was in.

He said the event had highlighted to him the need to specialise on the road for the big events.

White said unlike in Australia, where it was possible to "get away" with being a bit of everything, there was a need to have specific strengths, such as climbing or sprinting.

He said right now he saw himself best suited to the shorter tours or one-day events.