Sam Welsford is fast emerging as the rival to Caleb Ewan's status as the sprint ace of Australian road cycling.
The two-time Olympic track medallist is making a big statement this week at the Tour Down Under, winning two of the first three stages.
While Welsford is flying, Ewan was ill in the days before the race.
Ewan also has not been the same rider since the crash at the 2021 Tour de France that left him with a broken collarbone.
His five years at Belgian Lotto Dstny ended in frustration and acrimony, with Ewan back at top Australian team Jayco AlUla.
Ewan started the year by reclaiming the national criterium championship, but he and Jayco AlUla are winless so far this week at the Adelaide Tour.
As Welsford powered to the win in Thursday's third stage - he had time to look over his shoulder at the finish - Ewan was never in the hunt and finished sixth.
Asked about his status in the sport and the growing comparison between himself and Ewan, Welsford played the straightest of bats.
"I've always had the goal to be one of the best sprinters in the world, and I still think Caleb is one of the best sprinters in the world, as well,'' he said.
"On our day, all the top sprinters in the world are very close.
"We've really nailed it ... (but) not every day is going to be perfect and we have to know that.
"We have to make sure that when we get it right, we capitalise, and that's what we've done."
Welsford moved to the BORA-Hansgrohe team this season and it has paid immediate dividends.
Noting how well teammates such as Dutch rider Danny van Poppel have been leading him out, Welsford said it has been "almost hard not to get it right".
Welsford had a monster 56x10 gear for Thursday's high-speed finish, and his strong background as a track rider helped him generate the high cadence needed for the final sprint.
"It was a pretty big gear, but at that speed, grip it and rip it," he said.
The team pursuit and madison rider said his track craft also helps when jockeying for position in the road peloton.
After winning silver in the team pursuit on the track at the Rio Olympics and bronze in Tokyo, Welsford hopes to return to the team pursuit for Paris and claim the elusive gold medal to complete his set.
