AUSTRALIAN cycling star Jack Bobridge has revealed he suffers from rheumatoid arthritis but is adamant it will not stall his career.

The dual Olympian, 23, was diagnosed with the chronic condition in 2010 and requires weekly Methotrexate medication - also used to treat cancer patients.

At its worst before treatment began, Bobridge was at times unable to open a soft-drink bottle, struggled to put on his socks and was bed-ridden because of aching joints.

"Training was nearly unbearable and I was constantly sleeping because my body was so worn out," he said.

But the Olympic silver medallist and individual pursuit world record holder said treatment had enabled him to continue training and racing almost entirely unaffected.

"Most of the time you don't know you have it. For some reason there are random days where it does flare up and is quite painful.

"It will get worse over time but very slowly, it's manageable and doesn't get in the way of my training or racing with medication."

Bobridge said he would eventually like to become an ambassador or start a foundation to help other sufferers.

On the eve of the national championships in Victoria - where he won the road race in 2011 - Bobridge has also spoken for the first time about leaving Orica-GreenEDGE and joining Dutch team Blanco Pro Cycling in the off-season.

He is adamant there is no bad blood between him and his former teammates or management, but says he needed to "grow up" and leave his comfort zone within Australian cycling.

"I was getting comfortable in that environment.

"For my future and the way I was going about things (I had) to go somewhere (else)," he said.

He has also revealed the circumstances which led to last year's drink-drive crash in Spain which he feared could have cost him his spot on the Australian team a month before the London Games.

Bobridge will today be among the main contenders for the 37km national time trial title in Ballarat ahead of Sunday's race.

He will then return to Adelaide for the Santos Tour Down Under from January 20-27.