MARK Renshaw’s Dimension Data team may have lost the leader’s yellow jersey after stage two of the Tour de France on Sunday, but it was still a good day for the Bathurst cyclist.
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It was a day in which he continued to enjoy the spoils of a successful start to the renowned cycling epic.
On the opening leg of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France, Renshaw helped set up team-mate Mark Cavendish in a bunch sprint to the line.
In winning Cavendish not only took his career tally of Tour de France stage wins to 27, but it earned him the yellow jersey for the first time.
It was an effort which not only earned Cavendish praise, but Renshaw as well. SBS commentator Matthew Keenan labelled the Bathurst talent as the “ultimate lead out man.”
“Cycling is a team sport, individuals win, but it is a team sport, the guys rode well,” Renshaw said of the victory.
“He [Cavendish] is chasing so many goals, but full respect to win the yellow jersey. He will go to the Olympics with this high, I am sure he will be unbeatable.
“For me it was all about [stage one], delivering him. I did a pretty good lead out, he did an awesome sprint because he was underneath [Marcel] Kittel and got out.”
Given the finish of the 182 kilometre stage two from Saint-Lo to Cherbourg featured a category three climb to the finish line, Cavendish was never likely to defend his yellow jersey.
But he and his team-mates still enjoyed their moment in the spotlight.
The Dimension Data riders spent much of the day at the head of the peloton chasing a breakaway, Renshaw sitting next to Cavendish in the bunch.
In the end it was Tinkoff rider Peter Sagan who took the honours, posting his first stage win in three years as he won a sprint to the line.
His time of four hours, 20 minutes and 51 seconds was also good enough to see him take the yellow jersey from Cavendish.
"It is the first time in my career to have the yellow jersey, and it is unbelievable. I'm already wearing a nice jersey [world champion], but this one is also very nice,” Sagan said.
Renshaw crossed the line six minutes and 51 seconds later.