The opening month of 2017 was a whirlwind for the New England export.

Jenner shot to wider attention just seven days into the New Year when he produced a stunning solo ride to win the Australian Under-23 road race at the national championships in Ballarat.

If that was not enough for Jenner, 19, he then played an important role in helping UniSA finish as the premier team at the Tour Down Under in South Australia which finished on January 22.

Next on the agenda is the Herald-Sun Tour, starting in Victoria on Wednesday.

Jenner remains with the same Australian National Team he pedalled his way around South Australia alongside, although they will race under a different sponsor in the five-day tour.

Kordamentha Real Estate is backing the seven-strong line-up, which also includes Cameron Meyer, Nathan Earle and Jai Hamilton, for this event.

Meyer knows what it takes to win the Tour, having prevailed in 2014 while riding for the then Orica-GreenEDGE team.

The Herald-Sun Tour, which began in 1952, boasts a rich pedigree of champions, including Russell Mockridge, five-time champion Barry Waddell, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, who won the event in 2016.

Froome is back 12 months on to defend the title and headlines a Team Sky line-up which has just the six riders.

Simon Gerrans, a two-time winner of the race in 2005 and 2006, is touted as a major threat at the head of the Orica-Scott team.

A total of 15 teams will contest the tour, which opens with the prologue, a 2.1km individual time trial starting at Federation Square and taking in some of Melbourne’s great sights.

The course takes in Boat House Drive alongside the Yarra River and finishes at Queensbridge Square.

Then things get a little tougher with Jenner, his team-mates and rivals then embarking on a 174.2km opening stage from Wangaratta to Falls Creek.

Cycling experts have touted this stage will be a battle between the heavyweights of the field.

“We were always planning a tough course, however when we locked in (Estaban) Chaves and Froome we decided a stage including Tawonga Gap and Falls Creek was perfect,” race director John Trevorrow said.

“It’s a long climb to the finish but I don’t believe the race will be over on day one. 

“There are some really good climbers in the field so the big guns won’t be too far out in front. What an opportunity for a youngster to take on the best and really make a name for himself.”

Stage two is regarded as a scenic, but tough day from Mount Beauty to Beechworth over 165.6km.

The third stage visits the picturesque Goulburn Valley, which is predominantly flat apart from the Strathbogie Ranges at about the halfway mark of the 167.7km trip concluding at Mitchelton Winery in Nagambie.

The tour ends in a new location of Kinglake, with a 121km ride culminating in a 9km climb to the finish.

Trevorrow is expecting fireworks.

“This is a sensational new course that we have hand picked to create an amazing final stage,” he said. 

“With four climbs the stage is as hard as the finale that saw Froome claim victory last year.”