Calvin Watson's dream comes true with Trek Factory Racing

A YEAR after being told there wasn't a spot for him on Australia's development team, Calvin Watson will make his WorldTour debut at the TDU.

Calvin Watson, who was hit by a car last week, makes his WorldTour debut at the Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed.

ONE year after being told there wasn't a spot for him on Australia's under-23 development team in Europe, Calvin Watson will make his WorldTour debut with Trek Factory Racing in Adelaide.

The 21-year-old Victorian rode with the national under-23 team in 2012, but was left off the roster for 2013 and responded by winning the Herald Sun Tour and a start with UniSA-Australia at the Santos Tour Down Under.

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That brought about a change of heart from national selectors who recalled him to the under-23 team, and he later signed a professional contract with Trek which has led him to Adelaide this week.

"When I was here last year with UniSA it's hard to believe that now I'm back here riding with a WorldTour team," Watson said.

"That wasn't in my wildest dreams so I had to pinch myself when I rocked up here yesterday and was sitting at the dinner table with Frank (Schleck) and Jens (Voigt) and they're your teammates."

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Watson admits there is a slight "fear of the unknown" about racing at the top level, but he was treating the TDU as a learning experience.

"I'm here to learn and help and understand how the team works and what they want."

Watson fronted up for Sunday's national road race just two days after he was hit by a car while training, and managed to stay in touch with the leaders until the final three laps of the 18-lap course at Buninyong.

"I wasn't super happy with it but I was just happy to get that in my legs before I came here," he said.