But when the 68-year-old steps onto the stage in Manchester on November 14, he will do so with thoughts of making his mum, Marjorie, proud.

Herety, who hails from Cheadle, raced as a professional before going on to become the first director to win the Tour de l’Avenir with a British rider and work as the director of racing at Great Britain Cycling Team for six years. But he still looks back fondly on those early years riding in wool kit.

“My mum was my biggest supporter. She would have been so proud to know I'd been nominated,” he reflected.

“We came from a fairly poor background. Our house was only heated by two open fires, and we only ever lit one of them. Lycra clothing only came in around 1979 or 1980, so in the early part of my career, before I'd managed a little bit of success, it was all wool shorts.

“Washing and drying wool shorts overnight, when the only place in the house you could dry things was by an open fire, was quite a skill in itself.

“I remember shouting up to my mum at the top of my voice when a bit of wood from the fire flipped out and burnt a hole in my wool shorts. She used to get a bit of grief from me, but I know she'd have been so proud of this.”

In 1980, Herety competed at the Moscow Olympics, won a stage of the Peace Race in Chemnitz in East Germany, and finished third at the British National Road Race Championships, a race he would go on to win in 1982.

After his own racing career, he turned his hand to directing and then organising, most recently working with British Cycling at the World Championships in Montréal as a manager.

“I knew my own limitations as a rider and quite early on, I knew I'd got the best out of myself,” said Herety.

“You could learn from that aspect of it. Helping people maximise what they've got, identifying that in younger riders and giving people a platform to try to do their best and get the most out of themselves.

“The biggest change for me was working on the organisation side of things, which was a lot more complex than I ever imagined.

“I learnt a lot and developed a much healthier respect for all organisers, from the smallest club organiser right through to the people who put on the Tour de France.”

Herety lists winning the Tour de l’Avenir as director with Joe Blackmore in 2024 among his biggest achievements, while winning the National Road Race Championships with Kristian House in 2009 against riders like Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins ranks highly.

But beyond the visible success on the podiums, Herety is equally proud of his ability to facilitate and help each individual get the most out of their aptitude for the sport.

“We had success with riders, but I think I'm even prouder of the staff who worked with me. I was very good at surrounding myself with people who knew what they were doing,” he added.

“The list of soigneurs and mechanics who've gone on to work at WorldTour level is vast. Again, that's what I'm proud of, the staff and riders who came through the system and spent time with me, and who are still in the sport, either as coaches or in other roles.”

And Herety, too, is still going, motivated by that unique feeling he gets sitting in the car and being back doing what would continue to make his ‘Ma’ proud.

“It’s the sweaty palms. On the day of the time trial in Montréal, I got in the car and drove behind the riders. I still got a slightly upset stomach and sweaty palms, which is a sign that we still love it.”