HE was involved in a crash which saw Giro d'Italia leader Primoz Roglic surrender the maglia rosa, but fortunately Mark Renshaw was able to ride on the to finish of stage six.
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Before the Bathurst talent, who is part of Dimension Data's team in the Italian GrandTour, set off he knew he was in for a long day.
At 238 kilometres, the sixth stage from Cassino to San Giovanni Rotondo not only took the peloton to the southern most point of this year's tour, but was the second longest.
After some 35km, things got tougher for Renshaw.
He was involved in a crash that brought down some 20 riders, including Roglic. Renshaw not only hit the tarmac, but had other competitors land on top of him.
Fortunately he was able to ride on.
"Glad to ride away feeling reasonably fine. Hope all the other guys are okay," Renshaw tweeted after the stage.
That crash played a role in seeing the stage honours decided by a breakaway, Fausto Masnada clinching the win after five hours, 45 minutes and one second.
"We knew the break could go because it was a difficult stage to control," he said.
"I'm incredibly happy. I knew I was on form but it's always hard to win at the Giro d'Italia but I've done it," he said.
Renshaw crossed the line with a 49-strong bunch 23 minutes and eight seconds later.