Image 1 of 6 Rohan Dennis (Jayco-AIS) dons the yellow jersey for his win at the Internationale Thüringen Tour (Image credit: Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt U23) Image 2 of 6 Rohan Dennis (AUS) made it to the finals. (Image credit: Mark Gunter) Image 3 of 6 Australia's Jack Bobridge, Glenn O'Shea, Rohan Dennis and Michael Hepburn compete to win the silver medal in the London 2012 Olympic Games men's team pursuit final (Image credit: AFP) Image 4 of 6 South Australian Rohan Dennis takes out the men's under 23 road race title ahead of Victorian Eric Sheppard (partly obscured). (Image credit: Shane Goss/licoricegallery.com) Image 5 of 6 Rohan Dennis in the break re-hydrates (Image credit: Mark Gunter) Image 6 of 6 Simon Gerrans (GreenEdge), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan) and Rohan Dennis (Uni-SA) on the podium in Adelaide. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Olympic silver medallist Rohan Dennis has signed a two-year contract with Garmin-Sharp. The 22-year-old Australian will ride for Jonathan Vaughters' American team from January 2013.

Dennis has had a successful 2012 with the Jayco-AIS team: finishing fifth overall and taking the king of the mountains jersey at the Tour Down Under. In June, he created history becomming the first Australian to win the International Thüringen Tour in Germany. He is also the reigning national road and time trial champion at the under 23 level and on Saturday he formed part of the national team that won silver in the team pursuit at the London Olympic Games.

"It started at the Tour Down Under and I posted some good results there. Then I moved onto the track and gave it 100 per cent but that got my name out there and started to set things up," Dennis told Cyclingnews.

Dennis pointed to the experience of Allan Peiper as the main reason for signing with Garmin.

"There are a few reasons why I chose Garmin but Allan Peiper's record with neo-pros is outstanding. He knows how we work and it's just the best place for my development. He's an exceptional DS and it's a privilege to be underneath his wing for the next few years," added Dennis.

Jonathan Vaughters told Cyclingnews that Dennis's all-round talent had first attracted attention:

"Rohan is the rare talent that can ride a 3:54 team pursuit, climb with the best in the world, and win in tactical situations. He will be one if the best riders in the world, the question is only when."

A move to the road will effectively end Dennis' track career as he concentrates on developing his road credentials. Asked if he would race on the track again Dennis said: "Unfortunately not. Never say never but at the moment it's really the goal to move 100 per cent over to the road and see where that takes me."