Caleb Ewan stands at just 157 centimetres but where he lacks in height he more than makes up for with the use of powerful legs.
The stocky 21-year-old sprinter, who races for Orica-GreenEDGE, is regarded as Australia's next hope at the Giro d'Italia, but he admits he's up against the best in cycling's first grand tour of the year.
"It's definitely not going to be easy but I hope to go there and really be up there, going for podiums and hopefully wins as well," he said.
Ewan has already enjoyed grand tour success in last year's Vuelta a Espana.
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"It was a bit of an eye opener for me and now I know what to expect going into a grand tour," he said.
"To experience part of it was also great, not just the winning part of it."
Germans Andre Greipel and Marcel Kittel - among the world's best sprinters - are set to return to the Giro for stage victories, while among the big-name riders challenging for overall honours is Vincenzo Nibali.
Having won the Tour de France two years ago, the Italian is dedicating all of his energies to his home race this year.
GreenEDGE will also be banking on Colombian hope Estaban Chaves to produce as he did in Spain last year with a top 10 overall finish.
"It's typical in the Giro: small roads, hard climbs, long climbs, maybe bad weather in the third week," Chaves said.
"I know now I can do it."
Many view the Giro as an appetiser to the Tour de France.
"I love Italian cycling, the passion for the sport, the history," former winner former winner Ryder Hesjedal said.
"When you have spent days in Italy, it's like nothing else."
The Giro starts in the Netherlands this weekend before the field of 198 travel to southern Italy on Monday when the race resumes.
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