All things Team Qhubeka NextHash

[Long Wheel Base]

Renshaw to retire:

 

Announcement: Mark Renshaw

 

After 16 years, I’m proud to announce that 2019 will be my final year as a professional road cyclist. Looking back on my career it’s very gratifying to note the individual successes, as well as being a major component in victories for my team mates. Being a key part of these victories has certainly been a career highlight and motivated me to perfect the role of a lead out rider.  

 

Looking back, I have had a very fulfilling career as a professional cyclist both on the track and road. During this time, I have been particularly lucky to have had many family members and friends that have had to make great sacrifices for me to succeed. To them, I can’t thank you enough. Your support and encouragement has meant that I have always strived to perform at my highest level be it for my trade teams or representing my country.

 

I would like to thank all of the sponsors, staff and riders that have been a part of the professional teams I have ridden for: Fdjeux.com, Credit Agricole, HTC-Highroad, Rabobank, Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka. I have been extremely fortunate enough to work alongside some great people in each of these teams who have shaped me into the rider I am very proud to be today. The friendships that have been formed during this time will last a lifetime.

 

Some of my best memories were my first victory in the French Cup race, Tro-Bro Leon. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders at that moment in my career, while winning a stage and the general classification in the Tour of Qatar are memories that make me smile thinking back over my career. Other great memories were the moments I was riding for team mates and their success, finishing second on the Champs Elysees to my team mate Mark Cavendish in the 2009 Tour de France was unforgettable.

 

I’m not riding this year’s Tour de France but this was planned from early on in the year. It’s a race that has played a massive part in my career and in my eyes is the greatest sporting event in the world. I have been fortunate enough to be selected 10 times and have loved every moment of the Tour. I can’t wait to watch what promises to be an exciting race and am fully supporting Team Dimension Data as they continue to bring the Qhubeka story to the world stage.

 

I’m trusting 2020 and beyond will allow me to stay within the sport in some way but also provide an opportunity to chase some other passions that have had to be pushed aside, while also being able to relax with family and friends. I am most looking forward to being able to spend more time being a dad to Will, Olly and Maggie and giving my wife Kristina some extra support.  

 

I am looking forward to enjoying the remaining races of 2019 with the goal of performing to my absolute maximum as we continue to chase good results for the Team Dimension Data. I know that we will share many laughs and enjoy the final few months of the season with my current team mates and staff.

 

I know it’s the right time to step away from racing, my body and mind won’t allow me to perform and compete to the level that’s required for a race like the Tour de France . I am very fortunate to be able to make the decision to finish this chapter of my life on my terms, and I’m hugely excited about my future ventures.

 

 

Mark

Beat me to it. Just got the mail and came here to post it.

 

With Renshaw retiring then Cav will follow suit soon. 

[Dirt Tracker]

theres this

https://africasteam.com/podcasts-1

 

Thanks, I was referring to the behind the scenes section process for this years Tour squad. 

[Pure Savage]

Beat me to it. Just got the mail and came here to post it.

 

With Renshaw retiring then Cav will follow suit soon. 

To make way for the Gilbert show!!

 

Makes the most sense, in the twilight of his career, perfect fit at Di Data.

[Dirt Tracker]

To make way for the Gilbert show!!

 

Makes the most sense, in the twilight of his career, perfect fit at Di Data.

 

At least he's winning stuff in the twilight of his career. At TDD your twilight can start at 24. 

[Gen]

At least he's winning stuff in the twilight of his career. At TDD your twilight can start at 24.

Gilbert will get better offers from teams with more bloody direction... would be a mistake signing for DDD in the current state they are in..

 

Plus there is a rumour that points wont be transferable.

Edited July 4, 2019 by Gen

[dsw]

He owes didata a lot. It was time in 2016 to call it a day.

 

This bloke played a key part in 3 out of the 4 stages that Mark Cavendish won during the 2016 TdF. 

 

Why should he have retired then?

 

It is not his fault that things went haywire for Cavendish from then on.

[Dirt Tracker]

Gilbert will get better offers from teams with more bloody direction... would be a mistake signing for DDD in the current state they are in..

 

Plus there is a rumour that points wont be transferable.

 

I wouldn't think that PhilGil would be looking father than the key classics euro teams. After the main interviews that PatrickL gave earlier in the year I would have thought that a new contract would be a given but then that man has a history of letting champion riders go and still keep the team winning and winning and winning. 

[Yo-Yo]

This bloke played a key part in 3 out of the 4 stages that Mark Cavendish won during the 2016 TdF. 

 

Why should he have retired then?

 

It is not his fault that things went haywire for Cavendish from then on.

 

Don't forget he's been part of some of the most successful trains in the world and has been passing that info on as a sprinter and a road captain to the current team members, the young guys and helping shape them. But there are the hundreds of Cav' haters despite all the good he's done for the team and wins he's brought that will moan and groan about him and anyone connected to him. That core of people that think the foreign riders are over the hill, slacking and taking up money and that the young south african guys aren't getting their chances and obviously being held back from fulfilling their destiny and their (completely unseen) potential. 

[vulgar]

Mark Renshaw has always played a pivotal role in leading out Cavendish. If i am not mistaken he wanted to retire last yr already but then said he will take another year's contract (maybe cav said :come on mate, one more year)

Anyway all sportsmen have sell by dates, some have it early in their career and some later.

I think 16 years as a pro is quit good and certainly more than the avg pro lifespan in the pro tour ranks.

 

Also you always living out your suitcase, moving on the next day away from home missing family and friends, and when there is a party when you home ,you need to watch what you eat and drink  ....the older we get the more difficult it becomes to motivate yourself.

 

Unless you only started cycling at the age of 30 or 40(public in mind)...its a new hobby and dont understand why Pro's are retiring at such a "young age"

 

Respect to Renshaw, workhorses always out the lime light and hardly get noticed...

As for Cav, he WAS a very good sprinter,and thats that. 

 

Let the TOUR begin, Vive Le Tour 

Edited July 4, 2019 by vulgar

[Pure Savage]

This bloke played a key part in 3 out of the 4 stages that Mark Cavendish won during the 2016 TdF. 

 

Why should he have retired then?

 

It is not his fault that things went haywire for Cavendish from then on.

Ok, will give him 2016. 

 

I just feel for what Di data got, 4 wins in 4 years little short.

[Dirt Tracker]

Ok, will give him 2016. 

 

I just feel for what Di data got, 4 wins in 4 years little short.

 

You probably want to ask Sagan for a refund for lost stages at the 2017 tour then. 

[Pure Savage]

You probably want to ask Sagan for a refund for lost stages at the 2017 tour then. 

I will let him off as he rested up and won the world champs in 2017. 

[Gen]

You probably want to ask Sagan for a refund for lost stages at the 2017 tour then.

Tsek..that was Cav's own doing.. the proof is there as well as the official apology from the UCI for incorrectly booting Sags from the tour.[emoji6]

 

But hey Sagan ended up winning worlds, so suppose it is water under the bridge.

[J Wakefield]

To make way for the Gilbert show!!

 

Makes the most sense, in the twilight of his career, perfect fit at Di Data.

 

Thats one very bright twilight. The oke is a threat to win classics still, sharp race craft that can read races very well. The problem comes in that when your whole team can win classics pecking order becomes NB. 

 

Problem is that race results aren't just 1 rider in a team -  its the whole teams effort to get that win. You need a strong committed team to get a winner to win.

 

GVA is a perfect example of that this season. 

 

 

[J Wakefield]

He owes didata a lot. It was time in 2016 to call it a day.

 

He fractured his pelvis before going off to Aus, take a while to come back from that and well done for it. 

 

Renshaw is one of the best lead out men in the business, still is and if the sprinter he is dropping off to finish doesn't deliver that doesn't make him done or over the hill. There have been a few sprints where he was flawless but Cav didn't follow - did same for riders like Niz and Gibbons who have delivered.

 

DiData owe alot to him, he has passed info on in that team and still did his job. 

 

16yrs at the top of his game is one hell of a career. 

Edited July 4, 2019 by J Wakefield

[Dirt Tracker]

I know it's a bit of a TDD joke, that they are the team that pro's go to live out the final years, but wouldn't a cheeky offer to Kittel be worth it. Okay, so there are alot off the bikes issues that he seems to come with but remember TDD got Cummings and what he needed and that paid off big time for them. Plus his worth must be so rock bottom that you could take a gamble and load it with bonuses. Imagine th coverage if he comes back to win a few stage at a GT? The fairy tale story inside the Cinderella team. Column inches and podcast special right there. 

 

Maybe the kitten needs some space and understanding to get him back to speed and it was a hell of a speed when he was flying. They have the elements of a train place for with Cav', space for a key road captain / leadout man (who ever kitten feels solid with) as BernieE and Renshaw are off the books and they have the understanding in the team of what's needed for a sprinter to win. Also he's got a kid on the way and you could play on the heartstrings with the 'kids on bikes' angle / you'd be doings much more than greasing the old cycling world wheels etc. Plus DylanG has made it pretty clear in his comments that if the hair were to come to Jumbo then it would be firmly as the second sprinter and that isn't going to build anyones confidence, especially someone who was the best in the word and is coming back from 'personal issues'.