American rider Brent Bookwalter has extended his contract with WorldTour rider Mitchelton Scott for a second season with the Australian team.

Prior to signing for the 2019 season, Bookwalter spent 11 seasons with the BMC Racing team and was part of teammate Cadel Evans' Tour de France winning team in 2011.

But for a rider whose career has been largely unencumbered by injury or illness, the team move brought a slight change of fortune, and Bookwalter admitted that things were not always going completely smoothly. During the second week of the Giro d'Italia, he became ill and was forced to retire.

"In a way, it was a long season. In a way, it was a long season. Maybe I underestimated the challenge of change, but maybe I also underestimated the positivity, inspiration, and energy that it brought," Bookwalter said in a team press release. 'Having been in the same place for so long, the change was a bit of a surprise, but it was a breath of fresh air to find our best selves.'

." While I didn't check all the boxes or accomplish all the tasks I set out to do this season, it did give me some perspective on what it takes to be a top-level cyclist.

"But it did give me a chance to think about what it takes to be a top-level cyclist.

"There are, however, some moments that I look back on and am proud of. Yet, there are moments that I am proud to look back on.

"At this point in my career, I'm pretty open about the race program. I'm more concerned with how I can contribute to this team in the most impactful way possible, using my experience and skills to the best of my ability. I got a little taste of that this year with Simon and Adam in the GC race and I hope to continue that," the 35-year-old said, referring to the Yates brothers, who carry the team's expectations in the Grand Tour, with Simon Yates winning the Vuelta a España in 2018.

"Brent, by his standards, probably had a year to forget," said Matt White, Mitchelton-Scott's sporting director. But he is an experienced player and we saw the value in his experience and leadership and invited him to join our team."

"Brent is an experienced player," White said.

"He's staying because we know a lot of things are going to happen in his career and in the season, but we know how hard he works and we know he's valuable to the team.