Nat Bromhead
Retired Aussie pro Mark Renshaw will join Mark Cavendish’s Astana Qazaqstan Team as a sprint consultant for the forthcoming Tour de France.
Posting to Instagram, Bathurst-based Renshaw – who was Cavendish’s formidable leadout rider for 9-years – said he was ‘so excited to be heading back to the Tour to give my all and chase some victories with this man, Mark Cavendish’.
“I am really thrilled to return to the Tour de France with Astana Qazaqstan Team and Mark Cavendish as a sprint and lead-out consultant,” 40-year-old Renshaw said in a statement.
“After discussing the possibility to join Astana Qazaqstan Team with Alexandr Vinokurov and my ex-teammate Dmitriy Fofonov, I am really looking forward to bringing my skillset to help the team chase success.
“Our goal is to secure victories in the sprint stages, and I am eager to share my knowledge and experience gained as a lead-out rider and teammate of Mark Cavendish.”
Currently equal with the great Eddy Merckx as all time Tour de France stage winner, Cavendish is eager for at least one more victory to take the title.
With Cavendish winning the final stage of the Giro d’Italia, Renshaw believes his close friend can still win at the Tour.
“Mark’s recent victory in the Tour of Italy is proof that he still possesses the speed, power, and determination needed to win grand tour stages,” said Renshaw.
“With the support of Astana Qazaqstan Team and the talented riders selected for the race, I am confident that he has what it takes to win in this year’s Tour de France. I cancelled other jobs in July which shows my confidence in him. As we prepare for the important sprint stages, I am excited to work with the team’s Sports Directors to develop effective tactics and strategies, analyzing and breaking down sprint stages is something I absolutely love to do,”
Renshaw concluded by saying Cavendish’s career was already a complete success.
“But I am excited to have the opportunity to help Mark finish his career on an absolute high and chase his 35th victory in the Grand Boucle,” he added.
