And there’s one thing the professional road cyclist is looking forward to the most in her six-week stay back in the Hastings – mum Robbi’s cooking.

There will be plenty of food in the Kitchen household on Christmas Day and then it’s back into the grind.

“I love mum’s cooking; a Sunday roast or a lasagne definitely,” she said.

“I think for one day it’s alright to eat what you want because that’s what I always do for Christmas and then normally the day after I get back into it.”

The 26-year-old said living away from home came with its challenges, but it was important to embrace those challenges with an open mind.

Otherwise it can become soul destroying.

“I think mentally you have to be comfortable with where you’re staying in Europe so you feel the homely environment because if you don’t have that, 10 months is a long time to be away,” she said.

“I feel like I have that set up a bit, but nothing is the same as landing back in Port Macquarie at the airport; it’s so nice after being away for a year.”

Overcoming challenges is something the European-based road cyclist is now accustomed to.

She missed out on selection for the Australian Olympic team at Rio this year, but upon reflection realised it had been the right decision.

“I learnt a lot about myself, how far I can go and to an extent the politics involved in sport and the selection process,” she said.

“I don’t want to be part of Australian teams, I want to lead Australian teams and the next major goal is the Commonwealth Games in April 2018 which is not even 18 months away.”

“It makes 2017 another important year because the world championships are in Norway and on a course that seems to suit me,” she said.

“Having bad weather will suit me as well and my goal now is to lead the team in Norway, achieve a big result so I can lead the team in April 2018 at the Commonwealth Games.”

The 2011 Australian Criterium champion said 2016 had been successful because she had achieved most of the goals she set at the beginning of the year.

“In most cases I was the highest-ranked Australian so I’m happy with my season,” she said.

“I was aiming for top 10 results and I achieved them in a lot of the world tour races.”

Next year, Kitchen is aiming for at least one major win.

“I don’t care if I don’t perform in every other race, but if I win one event, it’s a really successful year for me.”

“I enjoy being away and in Europe, but the longer I’m away the more I realise that Port Macquarie is home and Australia is home.”

In the new year, Kitchen will head to the national championships  in January before the Tour Down Under and then the sprint classics in March.