Mark Renshaw
Encyclopedia
Mark Renshaw is an Australia
n racing cyclist with UCI ProTeam , who is considered one of the best lead-out men in the world.
, New South Wales
, began his career as a track cyclist riding for the Bathurst Cycle Club. Being coached at club level by Mark Windsor, he showed early promise, and went on to be selected for the Western Region Academy of Sport (where Windsor remained his coach). At the Under 17s level, in the 1998 Australian Track Championships, he won gold in the Teams Pursuit (Australian Record), Scratch Race, Time Trial, and Individual Pursuit (Australian Record), and silver in the Flying 200m Time Trial.
As a first-year under 19 rider, Renshaw continued to achieve strong results on the velodrome. His results included 3rd in the time trial (behind eventual World Champion Ben Kersten and World Championship Bronze Medalist Jobie Dajka), 4th in the Individual Pursuit, 5th in the Flying 200m Time Trial, 3rd in the Sprint (again behind Dajka and Kersten who were both again top 3 in the World Championships), 1st in the Teams Pursuit (with NSW); and 1st in the Olympic Sprint (again with NSW). Renshaw was then selected to compete for Australia in the Junior World Track Championships, where he became a World Champion, alongside Jobie Dajka and Ben Kersten, in the Olympic Sprint.
As a second-year Under 19 rider, Renshaw had a very successful national track championship, mirroring that of his earlier success as a second year Under 17 rider. He was 1st in the Olympic Sprint, 1st in the Time Trial, 2nd in the Individual Pursuit, 1st in the Team Pursuit, 4th in the Keirin and 1st in the Scratch Race. Again Renshaw was chosen to compete in the Junior World Championships. In these Championships, Renshaw added individual World Championship success to his Team's success from the previous season, returning to Australia a champion in the 1000m Time Trial, as well as defending his team's crown in the Olympic Sprint, and thus becoming a Triple World Junior Champion.
As a senior Renshaw began to concentrate more on an endurance programme, in the hope of becoming a professional road cyclist. However in 2001, as a first year senior, he won the Overall Track World Cup in his pet event as a junior, the 1 km Time Trial. It was a transition season however, and by seasons end his focus had switched to longer events.
In 2002 Renshaw's road career also began to take off when he was selected in the Brad McGee-organized NSWIS-FDJeux Development squad. Because of Renshaw's involvement in this squad he was soon riding in France with amateur squad SCO Dijon, which opened the door for him to join the senior FDJeux.com squad in 2004.
Renshaw returned to the track in 2004, and in the World Championships competed in the Madison, Points Race and Teams Pursuit. Renshaw crashed out in the Points race, and finished 4th in the Madison. The Australian Team Pursuit team went on to win Gold but Mark missed his second senior World Title, because he only competed in one round (the Qualifying Round) after his fall in the Points Race. After having raced all of the World Cup rounds in the Madison event, and in the process qualifying Australia for the Olympic spot, Renshaw was selected to ride the Points Race and the Madison at the Games. However, there was controversy when in the lead up to the event, Australian selectors chose experienced road rider, Stuart O'Grady
to partner Graeme Brown
over Renshaw in the madison event. Renshaw still competed in the Points Race, where he placed 6th.
Renshaw stayed with FDJeux.com for two seasons, before he moved to Credit Agricole, with the main aim of using his track bike handling experience to ride as lead-out for Thor Hushovd
. Renshaw showed strong early season form, taking out the Geelong Bay Series Criterium for the second consecutive year. This led to him racing as Credit Agricole's main sprinter in the early events (with Hushovds season yet to commence), where he picked up his first Pro-Tour victory in the first stage of his 'local' Pro-Tour event, the Tour Down Under. Renshaw went on to lead the General Classification of the Tour Down Under, until the penultimate Willunga Hill stage, where his lack of climbing ability meant he lost considerable time and the race lead to future team mate Andre Greipel
.
It was during his time with Credit Agricole that Renshaw made his Tour de France debut in 2008, after missing the 2007 race through illness. In the 2008 race, Renshaw received great praise for his role in Thor Hushovd's win on Stage 2 of the race.
After the Credit Agricole team folded at the end of 2008, Renshaw was hired for team Columbia-High Road. His primary responsibility in major races was as lead-out rider for sprinter Mark Cavendish
. After his first season with Columbia in 2009, Renshaw received praise from commentators and fellow riders alike for his part in Cavendish's hugely successful Tour and season in general, and was now commonly referred to as "the World's best lead-out man". Renshaw's individual highlight of the 2009 season was possibly his second placed finish on the final stage of the Tour de France, after a lead-out that also gave Cavendish the victory.
, with HTC-Columbia
in 2009, Renshaw was primed for a big season in 2010. His planned season schedule was to ride the Tour Down Under, the Tour de France
and then the World Championships - being held for the first time 'at home' for Mark, in Australia. These plans soon changed when he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus
in the pre-season which put his whole season behind. Renshaw missed his home tour, the Tour Down Under
.
, while leading out 's sprinter Mark Cavendish
, Renshaw was disqualified and removed from the race for head-butting Garmin-Transitions' leadout man, Julian Dean
.
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n racing cyclist with UCI ProTeam , who is considered one of the best lead-out men in the world.
Early career
Renshaw, who was born in BathurstBathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, began his career as a track cyclist riding for the Bathurst Cycle Club. Being coached at club level by Mark Windsor, he showed early promise, and went on to be selected for the Western Region Academy of Sport (where Windsor remained his coach). At the Under 17s level, in the 1998 Australian Track Championships, he won gold in the Teams Pursuit (Australian Record), Scratch Race, Time Trial, and Individual Pursuit (Australian Record), and silver in the Flying 200m Time Trial.
As a first-year under 19 rider, Renshaw continued to achieve strong results on the velodrome. His results included 3rd in the time trial (behind eventual World Champion Ben Kersten and World Championship Bronze Medalist Jobie Dajka), 4th in the Individual Pursuit, 5th in the Flying 200m Time Trial, 3rd in the Sprint (again behind Dajka and Kersten who were both again top 3 in the World Championships), 1st in the Teams Pursuit (with NSW); and 1st in the Olympic Sprint (again with NSW). Renshaw was then selected to compete for Australia in the Junior World Track Championships, where he became a World Champion, alongside Jobie Dajka and Ben Kersten, in the Olympic Sprint.
As a second-year Under 19 rider, Renshaw had a very successful national track championship, mirroring that of his earlier success as a second year Under 17 rider. He was 1st in the Olympic Sprint, 1st in the Time Trial, 2nd in the Individual Pursuit, 1st in the Team Pursuit, 4th in the Keirin and 1st in the Scratch Race. Again Renshaw was chosen to compete in the Junior World Championships. In these Championships, Renshaw added individual World Championship success to his Team's success from the previous season, returning to Australia a champion in the 1000m Time Trial, as well as defending his team's crown in the Olympic Sprint, and thus becoming a Triple World Junior Champion.
As a senior Renshaw began to concentrate more on an endurance programme, in the hope of becoming a professional road cyclist. However in 2001, as a first year senior, he won the Overall Track World Cup in his pet event as a junior, the 1 km Time Trial. It was a transition season however, and by seasons end his focus had switched to longer events.
Transition to road
2002 was a breakthrough year for Renshaw as an endurance track cyclist. Throughout the year he placed consistently in the Points Race, Madison and Teams Pursuit. And went on to be part of the Australian Team Pursuit team that broke the World Record at the Manchester Commonwealth Games (along with Graeme Brown, Peter Dawson and Luke Roberts). He was also later part of the Australian senior World Championship-winning Team Pursuit team.In 2002 Renshaw's road career also began to take off when he was selected in the Brad McGee-organized NSWIS-FDJeux Development squad. Because of Renshaw's involvement in this squad he was soon riding in France with amateur squad SCO Dijon, which opened the door for him to join the senior FDJeux.com squad in 2004.
Renshaw returned to the track in 2004, and in the World Championships competed in the Madison, Points Race and Teams Pursuit. Renshaw crashed out in the Points race, and finished 4th in the Madison. The Australian Team Pursuit team went on to win Gold but Mark missed his second senior World Title, because he only competed in one round (the Qualifying Round) after his fall in the Points Race. After having raced all of the World Cup rounds in the Madison event, and in the process qualifying Australia for the Olympic spot, Renshaw was selected to ride the Points Race and the Madison at the Games. However, there was controversy when in the lead up to the event, Australian selectors chose experienced road rider, Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady OAM , nicknamed Stuey, is an Australian professional road bicycle racer on UCI ProTeam , who started as a track cyclist. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in Men's Madison at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
to partner Graeme Brown
Graeme Brown
Graeme Allen Brown OAM is a professional cyclist and dual Olympic gold medallist from Australia.-Cycling career - road and track:...
over Renshaw in the madison event. Renshaw still competed in the Points Race, where he placed 6th.
Renshaw stayed with FDJeux.com for two seasons, before he moved to Credit Agricole, with the main aim of using his track bike handling experience to ride as lead-out for Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road...
. Renshaw showed strong early season form, taking out the Geelong Bay Series Criterium for the second consecutive year. This led to him racing as Credit Agricole's main sprinter in the early events (with Hushovds season yet to commence), where he picked up his first Pro-Tour victory in the first stage of his 'local' Pro-Tour event, the Tour Down Under. Renshaw went on to lead the General Classification of the Tour Down Under, until the penultimate Willunga Hill stage, where his lack of climbing ability meant he lost considerable time and the race lead to future team mate Andre Greipel
Andre Greipel
André Greipel is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .He currently lives in Hürth, close to Cologne in Germany...
.
It was during his time with Credit Agricole that Renshaw made his Tour de France debut in 2008, after missing the 2007 race through illness. In the 2008 race, Renshaw received great praise for his role in Thor Hushovd's win on Stage 2 of the race.
After the Credit Agricole team folded at the end of 2008, Renshaw was hired for team Columbia-High Road. His primary responsibility in major races was as lead-out rider for sprinter Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
. After his first season with Columbia in 2009, Renshaw received praise from commentators and fellow riders alike for his part in Cavendish's hugely successful Tour and season in general, and was now commonly referred to as "the World's best lead-out man". Renshaw's individual highlight of the 2009 season was possibly his second placed finish on the final stage of the Tour de France, after a lead-out that also gave Cavendish the victory.
Road career
After a successful first season as leadout man for Mark CavendishMark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
, with HTC-Columbia
Team HTC-Columbia
HTC-Highroad is a professional cycling team competing in international road bicycle races. Their current title sponsor is HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. High Road Sports is the management company of team manager Bob Stapleton. Past title sponsors include Columbia...
in 2009, Renshaw was primed for a big season in 2010. His planned season schedule was to ride the Tour Down Under, the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and then the World Championships - being held for the first time 'at home' for Mark, in Australia. These plans soon changed when he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus
The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis...
in the pre-season which put his whole season behind. Renshaw missed his home tour, the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
.
2010 Tour de France disqualification
During the sprint finish of Stage 11 in the 2010 Tour de France2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
, while leading out 's sprinter Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
, Renshaw was disqualified and removed from the race for head-butting Garmin-Transitions' leadout man, Julian Dean
Julian Dean
Julian Dean is a road racing cyclist who rides for . Dean rode in the 2008 Tour de France, 2007 Tour de France, 2006 Tour de France and the 2004 Tour de France, finishing all four times. In 2008, he finished 9th in the points classification...
.
Private life
In November 2009, Mark announced his engagement to longtime partner Kristina Harris. They married in a private ceremony in Mudgee, NSW in November 2010.Career highlights
1998- 1st
Individual Pursuit U17 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
(Australian Record) - 1st Team Pursuit U17 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
(Australian Record) - 1st Scratch Race U17 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Time Trial U17 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
1999
- 1st
World U19 Team Sprint Champion - 1st Team Pursuit U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Team Sprint U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
2000
- 1st World U19 Kilometer Champion
- 1st World U19 Team Sprint Champion
- 1st Team Sprint U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Time Trial U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Team Pursuit U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Scratch Race U19 Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
2001
- 1st Time Trial Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
2002
- 1st World Team Pursuit Champion
- 1st
Team Pursuit Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
Manchester - 1st Points Race Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Teams Pursuit Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 1st Scratch Race Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
- 2nd
Points race Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
Manchester
2003
- 1st Overall, Be Active Instead Criterium Series
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 3 Niederbronn Trophée des Sources
2004
- 1st World Championships Team Pursuit (Qualifying round only, so not classed as a World Champion)
- 6th Athens Olympic Games Points Race
2005
- 2nd GP de Denain
- 8th Prologue Giro d'Italia2005 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
2006
- 1st Stage 3, Tour Méditerranéen
- 1st Tro-Bro LéonTro-Bro LéonTro-Bro Léon is a professional cycle road race held in Finistère, Brittany. The event was first run in 1984 as an amateur race, becoming a professional race since 2000...
- 3rd Overall, Geelong Bay Classic SeriesBay Classic SeriesThe Bay Classic Series is a road cycling race held in and around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. The race consists of both a men's and a women's competition over five stages....
- 1st Stage 5
2007
- 1st
Overall Bay Classic SeriesBay Classic SeriesThe Bay Classic Series is a road cycling race held in and around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. The race consists of both a men's and a women's competition over five stages....
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Down Under ClassicDown Under ClassicThe Cancer Council Helpline Classic, also known as the Down Under Classic, is a single day road cycling race held in Adelaide, Australia, which is the official warm-up for the Tour Down Under. The race exists of only a men's competition and has been held since 2006.-Past winners:-References:*...
- 1st Stage 2 Tour de PicardieTour de PicardieThe Tour de Picardie is a professional multi-stage cycle road race held annually in Picardy, France. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- 2nd GP de Denain,
- 2nd Tour de VendéeTour de VendéeTour of Vendée is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May in the region of Vendée, France, finishing in a circuit inside La Roche-sur-Yon town. From 2005 until 2009, the race was organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, moving to 1.HC classification in 2010, and also being part...
2008
- 1st Overall Bay Classic SeriesBay Classic SeriesThe Bay Classic Series is a road cycling race held in and around Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. The race consists of both a men's and a women's competition over five stages....
- 1st Stage 3
- 1st Stage 1 Tour Down Under2008 Tour Down UnderThe 2008 Tour Down Under was the 10th edition of the Tour Down Under cycling stage race, taking place from 22 to 27 January around Adelaide, Australia. The Tour Down Under was the first race outside of Europe to be given ProTour status by the UCI....
- 2nd Down Under ClassicDown Under ClassicThe Cancer Council Helpline Classic, also known as the Down Under Classic, is a single day road cycling race held in Adelaide, Australia, which is the official warm-up for the Tour Down Under. The race exists of only a men's competition and has been held since 2006.-Past winners:-References:*...
- 2nd Vattenfall CyclassicsVattenfall CyclassicsThe Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
2009
- 1st Stage 1 TTT Giro d'Italia2009 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
- 2nd Stage 21 Tour de France2009 Tour de FranceThe 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
2010
- 1st Stage 4 Danmark RundtDanmark RundtDanmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
- 2nd Stage 1 Tour de France2010 Tour de FranceThe 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
2011
- 1st Overall Tour of Qatar2011 Tour of QatarThe 2011 Tour of Qatar was the tenth edition of the Tour of Qatar cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Asia Tour, and was held from 6 February to 11 February 2011, in Qatar. The previous race was won by Wouter Mol of .-Teams:...
- 1st Stage 4
- 1st Stage 1 TTT Giro d'Italia2011 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
- 1st Stage 5 Tour of Britain2011 Tour of BritainThe 2011 Tour of Britain was the eighth running of the latest incarnation of the Tour of Britain and the 72nd British tour in total. The race started on 11 September in Peebles, Scotland and finished on 18 September in London, England, with the race also visiting Wales for one stage.The race...