Reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome has joined cycling teammate Peter Kennaugh in tearing the Herald Sun Tour apart.
Potentially the biggest season of Froome's career started impeccably on Thursday as the Team Sky pair dominated stage one at Healesville, east of Melbourne.
Froome and Kennaugh escaped on the last major climb of the 126km stage and finished 17 seconds ahead of a 29-man chase group.
Froome allowed his faithful lieutenant ahead at the finish to win the stage and claim the overall lead.
Four days after Kennaugh won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race with a bold attack, he leads Froome by seven seconds on the overall standings.
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It means a reversal of roles for the Tour de France star and one of his key domestiques.
"Its a really nice feeling being able to give something back to Peter," Froome said.
"The number of times he's emptied himself for me out on the road and he's been part of both my Tour de France victories so it's nice to be able to do something for him now.
"Pete's in great shape ... we'll try and keep the jersey on his shoulders."
Froome, only the second reigning Tour de France champion to race in Australia, this year aims to become the first rider in the post-Armstrong era to successfully defend the title.
He then will target the two road gold medals at the Rio Olympics.
New Zealander Dion Smith (One Pro Cycling) finished third on Thursday and is also third overall at 23 seconds.
There are three days to come, including Sunday's Queen stage and the Arthurs Seat summit finish.
But Team Sky are in the box seat, given Kennaugh's form and the fact that Froome clearly is treating the Tour as more than a training ride.
Also, the race is not WorldTour and, while there are other outstanding riders, the field lacks the collective firepower to put enough pressure on Sky.
Unless disaster befalls Sky or someone can make a breakaway unexpectedly stay away, Kennaugh will win.
After a six-rider break was caught, Froome initiated the key move on Thursday on the Mt Saint Leonard climb.
With about 20km to the finish, Kennaugh joined him and, by the summit of the category-one climb, they had control.
Kennaugh said their plan had worked perfectly.
"It was to make it hard going into that last climb for Froomey to have a go and then I was just to follow wheels and judge the situation," he said.
"Massive thanks to the team and especially to Froomey because, once I got across to him, I pretty much just sat on his wheel the whole way up the climb.
"Then once I got over, I was able to do some good turns and take it to the finish with him."
Young Australians Lucas Hamilton and Patrick Sharpe are out of the Tour after crashing during the stage.
The Tour continues on Friday with a 144.2km stage from Yarra Glen to Moe.
