Renshaw #1

[Kender]

being the best leadout man doesn't mean you'll be a top sprinter

Julian Dean is a good example. for a few years he was talked about by his sprinters as being the best leadout man in the business. Then he got his own chance to be led but couldn't convert.

It's the extra kick at the end of a painful train that makes a great sprinter. Leadout men are great at dishing out that pain but not all can end it with a kick

 

[Martin318is]

Just like Cav needed Hincapie and Ciolek.

a lot easier to find a 2km to go man than to find a 500m to go man..... just saying..

 

[Richeypen]

a lot easier to find a 2km to go man than to find a 500m to go man..... just saying..

Thomas!!!!

 

[nevada]

Thomas!!!!

Maybe, but how long before they get bored of being Cav's lead out. Didnt Wiggo leave HTC for that reason ?

 

[abbaskip]

Thomas!!!!

Thomas is great, but hardly a 500m man. He doesn't quite have the top end of those guys but is stronger. Renshaw is the best 500m man because of his positioning, speed, and ability to keep a sprinter on his wheel and wind up slowly.

Renshaw as number 1 will be interesting. Training for top end speed and kick instead of leadout will improve him, it's a matter of by how much. Remember this is a guy that won the senior track world cup as a first or second year senior in the 1km time trial, and also a trip junior world champion in track sprint events-the 1km time trial and team sprint. If focusing on the sprint gets him some of that form back, who knows what he can do. He has focused on lead outs for years, meaning focusing on strength and longer efforts, without too much of a kick or initial acceleration.

Has anyone watched that Eneco tour stage that was referenced earlier in the thread? Renshaw sat at the back of the sprinters, and followed wheels and didn't even get out of his seat. You can't judge him on that. I think his tour of Qatar results against Haussler, Bennatti etc is a better indication. And I still think Haussler is one of the most under rates sprinters. He is one of the only guys i've seen challenge Cav in a one on one sprint without the advantage of one of them having to lead it out or getting boxed in etc.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

a lot easier to find a 2km to go man than to find a 500m to go man..... just saying..

What do you think Ciolek was?

 

[Boardslide]

Renshaw needs Cav and Cav needs Renshaw.

I think Renshaw needs Cav far more than the other way around, however could there have been a misunderstanding in the reporting. Cav has said he made his decision in Eindhoven after an addition had been made to an existing offer, could this have been from Rabobank?

 

[42x16ss]

Could it be possible that Renshaw has been bought as an investment in Michael Matthews? The kid is a massive talent and if Renshaw can't cut it as 1st choice sprinter then his experience will surely benefit Matthews and Bos.

 

[Swabian Lass]

i don't think that we've seen anywhere near what Haussler can do yet, hoping to see a lot more from him.

I can see Renshaw wanting to give it a try as a lead sprinter. He's arguably the best in the world at what he does and as a lead-out where can he go? It'll be interesting to see if he can get the kick and acceleration to finish the job off.

Didn't think Wiggins did much of anything at HTC did he? Wasn't that the year he was concentrating on the track and the Olympics? Come to think of it, that would have been the year he had the row with Cavendish about the madison. Yeah, can imagine he wouldn't have wanted to hang around...

 

[search]

I can see Renshaw wanting to give it a try as a lead sprinter. He's arguably the best in the world at what he does and as a lead-out where can he go? It'll be interesting to see if he can get the kick and acceleration to finish the job off.

he had a couple of opportunitys to shine this year but couldn't really deliver in bunch sprints. He lacks the ability of finding the right position (yet), he sprints like you expect a leadout man to sprint: he's in the wind way to early

guys like Dean or Velo have been outstanding in doing a leadout but could never transform this to winning a lot of races.

You're right, it'll be interesting to see if he can manage to become a top-tier sprinter but I doubt he has the "killer instinct" he'd need to.

 

[just some guy]

Could it be possible that Renshaw has been bought as an investment in Michael Matthews? The kid is a massive talent and if Renshaw can't cut it as 1st choice sprinter then his experience will surely benefit Matthews and Bos.

Thats my guess.

 

[fatsprintking]

Thats my guess.

100% agree. Renshaw is a leadout man and makes his living doing this and getting the odd chance here and there. He is happy with this and gets paid well to do it. He will be there for Boss in the short term and Mathews in the long term but will be given his chance now and then.

There is no shame in being a fantastic last man in a train. A mans got to know his limitations and I think Mark does. Good luck to him.

 

[greenedge]

He shall go well. He may not be at the level of Cav but he knows Cav better than Cav knows himself. He is great on technical finishes and might just surprise all

 

[greenedge]

Speaking on the Rabo topic their only good things this year have been Stevo, Gesink at Oman, unveiling of Bos/ Matthews and Weening/ LL stages at GT's. LL also won the spanish ITT jersey. Overall they have been disappointing and they are their only bright lights this year. Oscar is getting older, Breschel injured and for Mollema it was his time to step up this year after last year

E: Also Langeveld.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Dissapointing???? I certainly wouldn't agree with that. I do think that they would be dissapointed with their classics and tdf campaigns but with 22 wins and many more promising results it has been far from dissapointing imo. Still got the final third of the year to go as well.

 

[theyoungest]

From the Cyclingnews front page:

"Renshaw has excellent qualities, extensive experience in sprint field, may in addition to attracting the sprint own gain. The fact that the initiative comes from Renshaw did says a lot about the esteem in which riders for our team," said Rabobank director Erik Breukink.

Come on Cyclingnews, we all know you Google translate your articles, but at least try to make something of it.

 

[sublimit]

Still, its a good signing, Bos, Matthews, Freire will benefit in the bigger races and Renshaw gets to have a go in smaller races for his self?
It could be like Sky where Swift, Hendo, Hagen, swap places between being go-to rider and leadout for somebody else.

 

[abbaskip]

To be honest, I think it's a silly move. If he ends up riding lead out for someone else and race for himself in smaller races, he may as will ride for Cavendish and get wins leading out, and ride smaller races, like this year. He win the Tour of Qatar, which I know isn't huge, but it's ASO run, and had decent sprinters.

If he doesn't get to focus on sprinting, so gets no benefit, and shares leadouts with Bos, Matthews and Friere, then why bother leaving Cav. Especially as an Aussie, where the major focus is the tdf. Will he get to ride it next year, or will they focus purely on GC again? Or will he race it for Bos, which I really wouldn't get.

Mark went out with Graeme Brown's sister Kate for a long time in his younger years. Not sure he and Brown get on that well now. Has Brown been confirmed as leaving?

Unless he can really prove himself as a great lead out, and turn Bos into someone capable of beating Cav, or unless he gets to race for himself, I think it's a silly move.

 

[nobilis]

Like today, when he got 10th in an Eneco field sprint

No sorry, I don't think Renshaw can be an A level sprinter. I hope Rabo didn't go too far with the guaranteed Tour selection and all that crap. It's a good rider to add some experience from the best sprinting team in the world to the worst one, though.

worst one? What about the orange train Freire gets the chance to have during each bunch sprint

 

[Anonymous]

If Renshaw can work out a way of leading himself out, then he could do very very well.

 

[Anonymous]

If he doesn't get to focus on sprinting, so gets no benefit, and shares leadouts with Bos, Matthews and Friere, then why bother leaving Cav. Especially as an Aussie, where the major focus is the tdf. Will he get to ride it next year, or will they focus purely on GC again? Or will he race it for Bos, which I really wouldn't get.

Maybe he doesnt have a choice. It could be of course that Sky (or Cav) where not that bothered about getting him.

Rabo arent exactly loaded financially, so the idea that they outbid sky and made a better offer suggests that maybe he wasnt a priority for them.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rabobank have a lot of money, don't know where you got that from.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Rabobank have a lot of money, don't know where you got that from.

rabo have a decent budget, but what people don't realize is that it is spread across the mountain bike, espoirs and pro team.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

I've noticed a lot of people mention Renshaw has a leadout for Bos. I don't see this happening. It would be a waste of Renshaw's ability to lead out somebody like him. Bos has a hell of a kick, but I don't think he could hold Renshaw's wheel, nor finish a GT. He's better off on the track and in "sh!t small races" Does anybody honestly think Renshaw will be content leading out Bos in Turkey, Denmark, or the first week of the Tour? Seriously, If Renshaw isn't a top sprinter, then he's the very best leadout, he won't leadout a mediocre sprinter.

I think Renshaw will finally get a shot and boost his palmares.....

or what if Cav actually signed with Rabo....BUM BUM BUUUUMMMM

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I've noticed a lot of people mention Renshaw has a leadout for Bos. I don't see this happening. It would be a waste of Renshaw's ability to lead out somebody like him. Bos has a hell of a kick, but I don't think he could hold Renshaw's wheel, nor finish a GT. He's better off on the track and in "sh!t small races" Does anybody honestly think Renshaw will be content leading out Bos in Turkey, Denmark, or the first week of the Tour? Seriously, If Renshaw isn't a top sprinter, then he's the very best leadout, he won't leadout a mediocre sprinter.

I think Renshaw will finally get a shot and boost his palmares.....

or what if Cav actually signed with Rabo....BUM BUM BUUUUMMMM

actually bos has a really quick burst of speed, he'd have no problem holding renshaw's wheel. He just lacks other qualities that make him a complete rider. In fact Bos is the type of sprinter who would benefit greatly from a train, as he struggles to hold his burst for too long + isn't a superstar in positioning. Renshaw would help him greatly in these areas.. In theory renshaw and bos would be a pretty decent combo. Of course there is more to a train then just the final man. Leezer is pretty good in a train. Boom can get good position as an earlier member. Maybe matthews in there also.

Anyway renshaw mentioned working with Bos aswell as having opportunities for himself. So he will certainly have to work for Bos on occasion - rightly so - while also getting his chance.