But as Renshaw prepares for another Tour de France the pinnacle of world road cycling and one of the most-watched sporting events on television he certainly stakes a solid claim.

And Renshaw is not just there to make up the numbers he will fill the important role of lead-out man to one of the world's top sprinters, Omega Pharma-QuickStep team-mate Mark Cavendish.

As a young rider, Renshaw competed at Olympics and Commonwealth Games and, since turning professional, has been a stage winner in some of the world's best races.

He has also inspired a whole generation of young Bathurst cyclists who see, in Renshaw, proof that dreams can come true.

So, who might be his competition for the Bathurst title?

Wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley, though not strictly a Bathurstian, is another of the region's favourite sons who has competed and won at the highest level.

Bathurst has produced a number of cricket internationals most recently Trent Copeland and even an Australian captain in Brian Booth, but we have to go back more than a century for our top cricketing export.

Charles "Terror" Turner was the greatest bowler of his generation when he ruled the cricketing world in the 1880s and 1890s. In just 17 Tests, Turner took 101 wickets at an average of just 16.53.

Marty Roebuck starred for the Australian Wallabies (rugby union) while Paul Dunn toured with the Kangaroos (rugby league), and there must be many more.

But Renshaw's claim as our top sporting export is as strong as any, especially in the past 50 years.

Let the debate begin.