Bathurst professional cyclist Mark Renshaw is poised to make his eighth appearance in the Tour de France after being named in Team Dimension Data’s preliminary 13-rider squad for the annual event.

This year’s Tour De France is set to commence on July 2 and features an opening week packed with opportunities for quick men such as Renshaw to impress.

Riders will be asked to cover 3,535 kilometres in 21 stages as they make their way from Mont-St-Michel to Paris, with this year’s tour not only featuring a number of gruelling mountain stages, but a pair of individual time trials as well.

Renshaw is expected to be named in the squad to act as a lead out man in sprint stages for team-mate Mark Cavendish.

The pair, who previously rode together at HTC Highroad, have enjoyed plenty of success together in the renowned cycling event. Cavendish currently boasts 26 stage wins and the 31-year-old is focused on adding to that tally.

The initial 13-rider squad, which will be trimmed to the final nine starters after various national championships are staged this weekend, includes two more men Renshaw has previously ridden alongside in the Tour de France.

Two-time Tour de France stage winner Edvald Boasson-Hagen and Bernhard Eisel were also part of the former HTC team which dominated flat stages.

Dimension Data, previously known as MTN Qhubeka, made its Tour de France debut last year and enjoyed its share of success.

Daniel Teklehaimanot spent time in the polka dot jersey and Steve Cummings picked up a stage win as the outfit secured fifth place in the team’s classification. Both men have been named in the 13-man squad.

“The team achieved remarkable success so far, and we are confident that the group of 13 selected riders will represent our team values and team spirit throughout the 21 days of racing,” Dimension Data’s head of performance Rolf Aldag said.

“The Tour de France gives us the opportunity to showcase our team, to raise awareness for Qhubeka and to fight on every single day for the best possible result. We are highly motivated and believe that the race holds chances for all of our riders to make a difference, right from day one.”

Renshaw made his Tour de France debut in 2008 when representing Credit Agricole and has since gone on to notch up nine top-10 stage finishes, including a pair of seconds.

His most successful campaign came in 2014 when he placed fifth overall in the points classification behind Peter Sagan.

This year, Renshaw’s first with the African outfit, has seen him pick up three stage podiums. He was runner-up in stages one and six of the Tour Down Under and third on day two of the Tour of Croatia.

If he makes the cut, he will be looking to add more strong performances to his resume, with Dimension Data keen to make their presence felt in the peloton.

“We have an incredible squad of riders with lofty goals and big dreams like a year ago,” team owner Douglas Ryder said.