His role has changed as his career has panned out, but his focus is very much on team success, even if that is at the expense of individual glory on the finish line.

“All athletes make sacrifices. What I do is all about sacrifice and nowadays I get a lot of satisfaction in helping others,” Shaw said.

“Steele Von Hoff is always speaking about how I spent a lot of time helping develop him – that’s only done by hiding in the peloton and that’s why I do it, to see guys like him rise.”

Shaw received the Hollioake Medallion last night, his second in three years, for being a true team player.

It has been a big year for Shaw, whose highlights include a stage one win in the Tour of Tasmania, the King of the Mountain jersey in the Tour of the Great South Coast, National Road Series team classification winner and first and fastest time in the Melbourne to Ballarat Classic.

Shaw will ride more for himself this year, joining West Australian-based team Satalyst Giant, but says he is always on the look-out to help more young riders where he can.