The moment Team Sunweb young gun Chris Hamilton knew he could hang with the best

Pushing Aussie superstar Richie Porte during the Tour Down Under has given Team Sunweb young gun Chris Hamilton the confidence that he belongs at the elite level as he gears up for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Rd Race.

Chris Hamilton signs in at the start of Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. Picture: AAP

Rising Victorian cycling star Chris Hamilton admits he stunned even himself with his breakthrough Tour Down Under performance.

Hamilton, who will lead a youthful Team Sunweb in Sunday’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, won the best young rider classification and finished sixth overall in Adelaide.

A sixth-placed finish on the queen stage up Willunga Hill also turned heads.

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Chris Hamilton celebrates on the podium at the end of Stage 6 of the Tour Down Under. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m so happy with it. It was a lot better than I was expecting, that’s for sure,” Hamilton said.

“It’s definitely good confidence going into the year, especially for a rider like myself given I’m still finding my feet, more or less.”

Hamilton, who hails from Bendigo, said performing well alongside some of the superstars of the sport had provided an invaluable boost.

He was only six seconds behind Richie Porte on the Tour Down Under queen stage and beat home the likes of Canadian star Michael Woods and Italian powerhouse Diego Ulissi.

“You spend a lot of time wondering if you’re good enough to be there and then it’s good to get the validation that you’re on your way and moving up in the world and can start to be a bit more competitive,” Hamilton said.

Chris Hamilton crosses the finish line at the end of Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m super happy to be able to do it in Australia and now I just hope I can do it in Europe.

Hamilton, who hails from Bendigo, has served as a domestique in his two Great Ocean Road Race appearances, but will this weekend have a leadership role on the surf coast.

“The first year I did it (2017) when Nikias (Arndt) won and that was pretty special; being a first-year pro, coming to a team and you win a race straight away,” he said.

“This time I’m coming in almost like the team leader … but we have a few options with Jai Hindley and Michael Storer, who will be good for early attacks if there’s groups going when we get onto the finishing laps.

“I think I’m in really good shape. But the climbs are short enough here so to be a pure climber is sometimes not that much of an advantage because a lot of the guys can produce enough power to stay with you on the shorter climbs.

“It is hard because most teams have a bigger guy so they have an interest to not make it too hard straight up.

“For a climber to win it has to be raced hard on all the laps so we’ll see.”

Chris Hamilton signs in at the start of Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. Picture: AAP

Originally published as The moment Team Sunweb young gun Chris Hamilton knew he could hang with the best