Team Sky initially reported Doull’s absence as the result of illness, but the Welshman confirmed the full extent of his problem on Twitter.

“Not exactly how I pictured making my WorldTour debut, but when you appendix ruptures there’s much you can do,” he wrote, accompanied by a photo of him in a hospital bed.

Ellisonde, who had been in Brisbane training with Chris Froome ahead of the Herald Sun Tour, made his Team Sky debut instead of Doull in the stifling heat of stage one.

Danny van Poppel, the team’s nominated sprinter, finished second as Orica-Scott’s Caleb Ewan pulled on the first ochre jersey of this year’s race.

Dr Heron confirmed Doull is likely to be out of action for four weeks while he recovers – a major setback to his stated goal of earning a places in the Team Sky line-up for the spring Classics.

“The earliest he will leave the hospital is Thursday and recovery and recuperation is likely to take at least four weeks,” Dr Heron continued.

“Owain is obviously disappointed, but he appreciates he needs to be 100% fit to get back racing.”