And the Ballarat 30-year-old says he is in the shape and form to provide a fairytale finish to his career.

The Melbourne to Warrnambool has always been a special event for Shaw.

His father Dennis won the race in 1978 after spending almost seven hours in the saddle and Pat would like nothing more than to emulate that deed.

Pat Shaw goes into the scratch race and last leg of the National Road Series sitting second to Avanti IsoWhey Sports teammate Joseph Cooper in the NRS rankings.

So a win would not only be a massive achievement in its own right, but also decisive in his bid for a second NRS title.

Shaw announced mid-year that this would be his last professional season – a decision he is more than comfortable with just days out from his farewell event.

The timing could not be better after what has been a great year for him, with a desire to spend more time with a young family and turn to life after race riding.

Shaw said he could hardly have expected much more this year – winning a stage of Bay Criteriums and in doing so beating boom young sprinter Caleb Ewan, two top 10 finishes in the Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Ballarat, making his WorldTour debut in the Tour Down Under in South Australia, a top 10 finish in the Tour Korea and consistent form through the NRS. “It’s great to be able to go out on top. The time’s right.”

While he will no longer ride at the top level in Australia, cycling will continue to be his livelihood through the family business – Shaw's Cycling Centre in Ballarat – and his passion as he mentors the next generation of professional riders in the city.

He is already working with the likes of Angus Lyons, and brothers Liam and Nicholas White, with all three among the emerging talent at NRS level. 

Shaw believes Liam White is a big chance in the 277km event, which starts in Werribee and takes in Inverleigh, Lismore, Camperdown and Terang. White finished in a big lead bunch last year and 16^th two years ago just six seconds off the pace.