Esteban Chaves is in the midst of an experiment that is months away from revealing its true success or failure.
In the short term, the Colombian cycling star's first block of Australian racing already scores a big tick.
Apart from his second overall at the Tour Down Under, Chaves is an always-smiling character who has built a massive following among Australian cycling fans.
The decision by the Australian Orica-Scott team to sign him four years ago when he was still recovering from injury has proved a masterstroke.
But as last year's breakthrough results show, Chaves has much bigger objectives.
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After finishing runner-up at the Giro d'Italia and third at the Vuelta a Espana, the 27-year-old is on the cusp of Grand Tour greatness.
"The experiment is how the body is after this, how the body is in the big tours, after starting to race early in the season," Chaves told AAP.
"For sure, it's great to be on the podium at the first WorldTour event (Tour Down Under), I'm super-happy and the team is super-happy.
"But we're looking to see what it's like in the future.
"This is why we do it and for the moment, it's going well."
There has been speculation that Chaves will pass up the May Giro this year and go to the July Tour de France instead.
But Orica-Scott will not reveal the European racing programs of Chaves and their other young Grand Tour stars, British twins Adam and Simon Yates, until after the Australian domestic season.
Chaves next competes on Sunday at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race, which is a WorldTour event for the first time.
It is the only Australian race this summer that will feature Chaves, three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and Tour Down Under winner Richie Porte in the same lineup.
Chaves points out that Sunday is not just about Froome and Porte for him - it is another good early-season hitout and an important objective for Orica-Scott.
But the Colombian admits he will keep an eye on his two Grand Tour rivals..
"To race against Christopher, to race against Richie, it's a good feeling," he said.
"They are big champions, so you can learn a lot - how they race, how the team works when it's Richie, how the team works when it's Chris."
Above all else, Chaves is enjoying himself immensely.
"The motivation is super-high and that's more important, I think - the head," he said.
"The body follows the brain and I'm happy.
"We will see - I'm excited about it."
