Mark Renshaw thanked Mark Cavendish after a role-reversal helped Renshaw to take stage five of the Tour of Britain in Exmouth this afternoon.
The sight of the Australian leading-out his British team-mate has become the norm, but this afternoon Cavendish was happy to watch the Rabobank-bound rider cross the line first.
Speaking afterwards, Renshaw said: “I dare say he wasn’t giving 110% (at the finish)! There’s been a lot of times I’ve helped him to victories so it was great to see him help me win a stage.
“The plan was to work for Cav like all the time. I made sure I was first through the corner at 250 (metres to go) and put the head down and went from there.
“I think I was quite lucky; I maybe put one or two lengths into him through the corner and he probably hesitated a second or two to give me a few metres advantage.”
Renshaw on the podium
The winning doesn’t stop here
The victory was the 501st since Bob Stapleton took over from the remains of the T-Mobile team, but Renshaw believes there’s more to come before the squad folds at the end of the season.
“I’d like to say it would be (the final victory) but I dare say it will knowing this team.
“The success we’ve had has been unbelievable. I’ve been a part of many victories with the team, not only with Mark but with Andre Greipel, Greg Henderson and Edvald Boasson Hagen. I think that’s probably well over 150 just with those four so I’m very privileged.”
He added: “It’s going to be quite difficult next year seeing the riders disperse among the teams. It’s going to be very open but I’m looking forward to that.”
