Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka's Nicholas Dlamini got his professional career off to the best possible start by claiming the Tour Down Under's King of the Mountains jersey after Stage 1.
Tuesday's opening stage marked the start of the 2018 UCI World Tour season, and while the 145km from Port Adelaide to Lyndoch culminated in a big bunch sprint the story of the day was undoubtedly about the 22-year-old.
Dlamini, who has been promoted to Africa's Team from their professional continental squad, made the three-man break of the day, escaping in the opening kilometres with Will Clarke (EF Education First) and Scott Bowden (UniSA).
The trio rode to a four-minute lead over the peloton before Dlamini kicked for the King of the Mountain points at the 38-kilometre mark. Dlamini and Clarke continued in tandem after the climb but the peloton kept their lead in check, ensuring a sprint would decide the stage.
"The day started off really well with a relaxed start because the peloton just let us go when we attacked. There was one experienced rider in the move, Will Clarke, so I had to keep an eye on him, but he was actually a really good guy to ride alongside," said Dlamini in a team press release.
Dlamini was back in the peloton with 25km to go but by then he'd secured his first-ever visit to the podium at a World Tour race, which he revealed was the fulfilling of the team's gameplan.
"In our stage tactical meeting the plan was always for me to make the break and take the Mountains jersey. In that type of situation, I have the best kick in the team so I am happy it all went according to plan. We have some bigger objectives for the race with Tom[-Jelte Slagter] and the GC, so we'll have to see what happens about keeping the jersey but it is great to have it for now. This is the highest level of the sport so I am really excited to be wearing a leader's jersey in my first race, I hope for more of the same during the rest of the season."
In the stage's final reckoning Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) was the fastest to the line in Lyndoch, securing the stage win and the Ochre leaders jersey. Local favourite Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) was 2nd and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) placed 3rd.
On Wednesday, when Dlamini will start among the leaders, the Tour Down Under will make its way to Stirling from Unley, over 148km with a short kicker to the line set to play a serious role in the stage outcome.