Ryan has poured a lot of time and money into the team and came ever so close to fulfilling a dream when Estaban Chaves – who he has dubbed the "Columbian Kangaroo" – came agonisingly close to winning a grand tour, the Giro d'Italia, in May.

Chaves finished second in the Giro after leading into the second-last stage, and won't ride in the Tour for the team. But Ryan believes the Columbian is a prime example of what he is trying to achieve with his team.

"When we started we were about winning sprints or classics but now we have a more well-rounded team, and we have genuine general classification chances," he said.

That has led to several changes in the team this year, with about 40 per cent of riders turning over, but otherwise Ryan is adopting more of a long-term approach in line with the strategy of other Australian sports teams.

It is about list management

"We're aiming to win a [Tour] stage or two and we've identified several we think we are a chance at. But I think we will be in a position to have a real crack at winning [the overall race] in 2017 and 2018. It is about list management, as we do at the Melbourne Storm in the NRL (Ryan is a shareholder) where we are bringing in the young ones around Cameron Smith and so on."

"So we're getting in the general classification and we are building around them more. It is about having the depth, and the culture. We've recruited riders who say we've added years to their career because of the training and recovery we do. People are coming to us now, that is the respect we are getting on the circuit."

Chaves is one Ryan names as a future big race winner, and the British Yates brothers as others. Chaves was recruited while injured two years ago and was nursed back to health by the team, a move that paid off in the Giro with a second-placed overall finish – the team's first grand tour podium finish.


High hopes are also in place for young Australian Caleb Ewen, who Ryan believes can win big sprint races and stages. "We have to be careful about expectations. Remember Robbie McEwen was 27 when he started winning big races, Caleb is younger [at 21].

The depth of talent in his team is the best it has ever been, Ryan believes, and also belies Orica-GreenEDGE's position in fiscal terms. The team budget ranks about 12th on the global circuit, and is close to half of the $35 million it costs the Sky team from the United Kingdom annually.

Further changes coming to the global tour will also help. An agreement struck between Tour owner Amaury Sport Organisation and world governing body UCI for the 2017 calendar will cut down on race clashes and all World Tour teams will be granted two-year licences, bringing more certainty for team owners.

"We are told we have to race here and there now, and we can't be everywhere [with one team]," said Ryan. "So this will reduce costs."

Further changes include the introduction of feeder teams and a points system that could see teams be promoted and relegated between the sport's top two levels, World Team and Pro Continental.

Longer-term, Ryan wants the sport to refocus on Asia and concentrate more on China, where the Tour of Beijing has been cut from the calendar. Orica-GreenEDGE has signed Hong Kong rider King-Lok Cheung and the team's team's backstage pass digital service for the Tour de is being translated in Chinese for the first time.

Ryan will be there on the long gruelling days during the Tour, which stretch from 7am to 10.30pm each night, including travel to hotels, the race and pre and post riding preparations.

But he's already got his eye on the race next year and beyond. "I'm excited about where this team is going. We're respected out there now, and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction."