MARK Renshaw has long been a supporter of the annual Tour Down Under, but following a horror crash in training on Saturday he will not take part in this summer’s edition of biggest cycling event in Australia.
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Renshaw was hit by car while training in Bathurst, an incident which left him with a fracture of his left pelvis.
It means he will miss out on racing in Adelaide’s Tour Down Under – an event in which he boasts 15 starts – as well as being ruled out of the Australian National Road Championships in early January.
“I was heading back out on the road for the final two hours of my five-hour training ride and as I entered the roundabout, the car looked like it was going to stop,” Renshaw said.
“I assume the driver didn’t see me and I hit the front right of the car and flew over the bonnet, landing heavily on my pelvis.
READ MORE: Renshaw signs up for another season
“I’m not sure if the impact with the car or the ground caused my injuries, but it was definitely a scary moment as you now realise it could have been much worse.”
Renshaw’s Dimension Data head of medical Helge Riepenhoff said it will take Renshaw “at least 3-4 months until he will be back racing.”
Having had his 2018 pre-season hampered by sinus issues, Renshaw was hoping for a good start to the new year on Australian soil.
“I’m devastated that my pre-season training will be hampered as I was planning a big start to 2019. I was already into serious training for January’s racing,” he said.
“It’s gutting to have another set-back but as hospital staff have told me, it could have been much worse then what is was.
“A big thank you to everyone who helped me on Saturday. Also to everyone who has sent me messages and been in contact. Hopefully I’m back an action for Team Dimension Data soon, better than before!”
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When Renshaw returns it will be his fourth year riding for Dimension Data and 16th in the professional road cycling peloton.
“We have had some great success over the past three years,” Renshaw said after signing a new contract in October.
“Working with our new sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo next season as well seeing Ryan Gibbons continue to develop will be very exciting, I looking forward to helping him and our other leaders in the sprint finals next season in my favourite position of lead out rider.
“I will be sharing all my years of experience on the road to bring the team our best results.”
Being able to get back on the road is something his Dimension Data team-mate Mark Cavendish – who has himself suffered from a number of crashes in 2018 – is glad Renshaw will do.
“Absolutely devastated for Mark Renshaw. Just glad you can come back from it mate,” he tweeted.
