WHEN Mark Renshaw opted to make the transition from a successful track cycling career to join the ranks of the professional road peloton, there were many who doubted him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But now, as Renshaw announces his retirement after 16 years as a road professional, he holds the reputation as having been one of the best lead out men in the world.
Renshaw revealed on Thursday evening that 2019 will be his final year as a professional.
The announcement comes after it was confirmed the 36-year-old will not take part in this year's Tour de France for his Dimension Data team.
"I know it's the right time to step away from racing, my body and mind won't allow me to perform and compete to the level that's required for a race like the Tour de France," Renshaw admitted.
"I am very fortunate to be able to make the decision to finish this chapter of my life on my terms, and I'm hugely excited about my future ventures.
"I'm not riding this year's Tour de France, but this was planned from early on in the year. It's a race that has played a massive part in my career and in my eyes is the greatest sporting event in the world.
"I have been fortunate enough to be selected 10 times and have loved every moment of the tour."
Before his long and successful career on the road, Renshaw was a talented track cyclist.
As an under 17 rider he was a multiple Australian champion with success in the teams pursuit, scratch race, time trial, and individual pursuit.
After graduating to the under 19s level, he was crowned a junior world champion three times.
In 2002 the Bathurst talent claimed gold at the Manchester Commonwealth Games as part of the Australian pursuit team alongside Graeme Brown, Peter Dawson and Luke Roberts. They clocked a world record in claiming the win.
He was also later part of the Australian senior World Championship-winning team pursuit team, yet in 2002 there was perhaps an even bigger moment for Renshaw.
That was when he was selected in the NSWIS-FDJeux Development road cycling squad.
Two years later he signed with French professional road cycling outfit Fdjeux.com.
Since making that bold decision, Renshaw has gone on to contest the Tour de France 10 times, the Giro d'Italia five times and the Vuelta a Espana on three occasions.
With his strong track cycling background, his role in the main has been to ride as a lead out man for sprinters in flat stages.
His skills in doing that have set up countless stage wins - a large bulk of them for Mark Cavendish.
Amongst that duo's triumphs are when helped Cavendish to wear the Tour de France's yellow jersey and claim the outright green jersey in the French epic.
In total Renshaw helped Cavendish to 22 of his 30 Tour de France stage wins - something which has earned him high praise from the 'Manx missile'.
"There are very few people - two, three in my career - whose judgement I would take over my own in terms of positioning and movement in the peloton. Mark is definitely one of them. He's on the highest rank," Cavendish said in 2015.
"He's the most gifted person I've ever seen at moving round the peloton, at knowing where to go. I don't even have to think if I trust him."
Across the years Renshaw has ridden for a number of teams - Fdjeux.com, Credit Agricole, HTC-Highroad, Rabobank, Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Team Dimension Data.
His 2012-13 stint at Rabobank saw him have an opportunity as a lead sprinter in his own right.
He also picked up wins along the way - 12 of them - including two stages at the Tour of Britain, two stages of the Tour Down Under and the 2006 Tro-Bro Leon.
"Some of my best memories were my first victory in the French Cup race, Tro-Bro Leon. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders at that moment in my career," Renshaw said.
"Winning a stage and the general classification in the Tour of Qatar are memories that make me smile thinking back over my career.
"Other great memories were the moments I was riding for team mates and their success, finishing second on the Champs Elysees to my team-mate Mark Cavendish in the 2009 Tour de France was unforgettable.
"Looking back on my career it's very gratifying to note the individual successes, as well as being a major component in victories for my team-mates.
"Being a key part of these victories has certainly been a career highlight and motivated me to perfect the role of a lead out rider."
It is that lead out role for Cavendish in which Renshaw forged his reputation.
Just as Cavendish has the utmost respect for the Bathurst talent, Renshaw freely acknowledged the skill of his team-mate.
Want a discounted subscription to follow Bathurst sport this winter? Click here
"The records say Cav is the greatest sprinter of all time," Renshaw said.
"He's won everything that's possible for him in our sport and he's got 30 stage wins to his name in Le Tour."
Renshaw will chase more wins before the end of 2019 - no doubt some of them alongside Cavendish - and hopes to continue his association with the sport in the years to come.
"I am looking forward to enjoying the remaining races of 2019 with the goal of performing to my absolute maximum as we continue to chase good results for the Team Dimension Data," he said.
"I know that we will share many laughs and enjoy the final few months of the season with my current team mates and staff.
"I'm trusting 2020 and beyond will allow me to stay within the sport in some way but also provide an opportunity to chase some other passions that have had to be pushed aside, while also being able to relax with family and friends.
"I am most looking forward to being able to spend more time being a dad to Will, Olly and Maggie and giving my wife Kristina some extra support.
"Looking back, I have had a very fulfilling career as a professional cyclist both on the track and road.
"During this time I have been particularly lucky to have had many family members and friends that have had to make great sacrifices for me to succeed.
"To them, I can't thank you enough. Your support and encouragement has meant that I have always strived to perform at my highest level be it for my trade teams or representing my country."