NORTON Summit one day, Willunga Hill the next and the mercury climbing over 40 degrees – it is certainly not ideal cycling for Bathurst professional Mark Renshaw.
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Renshaw is currently competing in South Australia’s annual Tour Down Under for team Dimension Data and for a man more suited to sprints, Friday and Saturday are about survival.
Friday’s 128.2 kilometre stage from Norwood ito Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills saw the 5.8km Norton Summit climb (category one, five percent gradient) included for the first time.
Renshaw’s team spent time on the front chasing a breakaway to try and set things up for team leader Tom-Jelte Slagter, but in the end it was world champion Peter Sagan who took the honours.
Jelte Slagter placed 24th with Renshaw 90th, while team-mate Nicholas Dlamini retained his king of the mountains lead.
Saturday will again be tough for Renshaw as it features two ascents of the category one Willunga Hill (1.3km climb, 7.5% gradient).