Taupo rider Patrick Bevin will become the 14th New Zealander to line-up in cycling's most acclaimed race when the 105th Tour de France wheels into action in Germany on Sunday.
Bevin, who rides for the Cannondale-Drapac World Tour team, will line up with three other New Zealanders led by Tour of California winner George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Jack Bauer (Quick-Step Floors) and fellow debutant Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
They will endure 21 stages over 3500km initially from Dusseldorf in Germany, through Belgium to France before its celebrated conclusion in Paris on July 23.
His call-up was not on his plans until Bevin rode brilliantly in the Tour of Switzerland, a key lead-up race for Le Tour, placing second in a sprint finish along with a fourth and sixth in sprint finishes in two other stages.
"Without the tour hanging over my head, it had not been a huge bother but given the reception I have had especially from New Zealand which has been really big and has made me rethink how much of an achievement it is. It's exciting. It is the biggest race we have and exciting to get my first start there."
The 26-year-old had five years as a professional in USA before moving to the Cannondale-Drapac World Tour team last year following his time trial victory at the national championships.
Bevin moved back to the road after a successful return to the track, winning a national title in points and a World Cup gold medal in 2014 which earned selection to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
He is an assured and calm character who is hoping to keep a lid on his emotions ahead of the start this weekend.
"A big part of it is keeping an eye on the big picture and being calmer - riding out the ups and downs that you inevitably have racing because you have some big ups and big downs.
"Lining up on a start line and being pointed at the finish is quite easy but it is everything that goes outside of that takes a lot away. The last 18 months has been a real lesson in adapting and adjusting to everything that comes at you."
Not that Bevin wants to just make up the numbers at Le Tour.
"You go there with ambitions and dreams of winning a stage. The team is keen on animating the race and being in the breaks and winning a stage out of the break.
"We have some general classification ambitions as well so there will be an element of helping out there. But there will be some opportunities.
"You line up 21 times and someone has to be first across the line so you take it day by day and pick your battles.
"Everyone talks about how big it is and how stressful it is. There's a certain amount of being green and going in blind with the attitude of giving it a go every day."
The hardest thing over the past week has been to do less.
"You think you should just do a little bit more and train a little bit harder but I have been there before. I am knocking on the door of the biggest race of my career but I am spending half my time sitting around at home with my feet up recovering and getting ready to go."
Bevin splits his time between Andorra, where he has become a resident, and Girona, which he calls "Little Oceania" with the large number of New Zealand and Australian cyclists based there.
Andorra provides an ideal training base, perched in the Pyrenees, with his village alongside the mountain bike park that will host this weekend's World Cup that will feature a number of Kiwis.
"Anton (Cooper) and Sam (Gaze) are doing well and I would have definitely been around to watch them otherwise."
He has been blown away with the support he has received from New Zealand which he hopes will buoy him for the battle ahead.
"It is hard to come in without any previous experience which is going to be either very dangerous and I will be left in a puddle on the floor or it will be good and we take it as it comes.
"The thing about cycling is that no two races are the same, no two Tours are the same, and every day is different. In some regards you relax, trust the form is good, the body is good and look forward to being part of the race. The most exciting part is I feel relaxed and ready to step up to the plate when it happens."