THERE is still more than two months before the 2015 edition of the Tour de France commences, but the Mark Renshaw-Mark Cavendish combination is certainly one to watch come the flat stages.

Not only do the pair have a proven record in the epic race, but they are currently in the sort of form that will have their rivals nervous. Yesterday (AEST) the pair combined to make it two stage wins in as many days in the Tour of Turkey, Bathurst talent Renshaw providing the lead out for Cavendish.

That Renshaw required a wheel change inside the final 20 kilometres of the stage and Cavendish actually contested the sprint to the line with a punctured tyre made the win even more impressive.

“Top job Etixx-QuickStep team. Looks simple to win these races, but I can tell you it’s bloody hard,” Renshaw tweeted. 

“So many good sprinters and teams here!”

After taking out the opening stage of the tour, Renshaw and his Etixx-QuickStep team-mates were keen to keep Cavendish in the leader’s jersey.

The second stage was a 182 kilometre ride from Alanya to Antalya and while a group of five broke clear after 20km, QuickStep came to the front of the peloton and ensured they were kept in check.

As the peloton closed in on the breakaway, Renshaw was forced to stop due to a flat tyre. However, the Bathurst talent had a quick wheel change and was able to tack back on the bunch.

The breakaway was caught shortly after and it paved the way for a frantic final 12km as the field made their way towards the finish line at Antalya.

While the QuickStep riders got themselves organised and set up their sprint train for Cavendish, the man known as the ‘Manx missile’ soon realised he had a problem.

“We went round a corner with five kilometres to go and my wheel went from me and I thought ‘That’s not good’,” Cavendish said.

“I had a little bounce and it was spongy, it wasn’t totally flat, but it was really spongy and I thought ‘Oh god, I either stop now’ but then we were already on our third guy in the train, so if I stopped we were one man short for Renshaw anyway.

“So I thought ‘I’ll give it a crack’. I went easy round the last two corners then, yeah, went for it.

“I had confidence in my team. If they kept me at the front on the corners then I was always going to be okay, and they were super strong.”

It was the Lampre-Merida team, riding for Sacha Modolo, who opened up the final sprint early.

It meant Renshaw had to work hard to keep Cavendish in the mix, the former Bathurst Sportsperson of the Year finally relenting with 500 metres to go.

Cavendish then attacked 200m out from the line and was able to win by a wheel length over Modolo in a time of four hours, 21 minutes and 32 seconds.

The third stage will be one for the climbers as the field makes their way 163 kilometres from Kemer to Elmali.