Mark Renshaw Kicked Out of Tour
Australian cyclist Mark Renshaw, riding for HTC-Columbia, was thrown out of the 2010 Tour de France after the 11th Stage on Thursday. In the sprint finish to Bourg-les-Valence, Renshaw served as the lead-out man for stage winner Mark Cavendish, but in the process repeatedly head-butted New Zealander Julian Dean. Dean was serving as the lead-out man for Team Garmin’s sprinter Tyler Farrar, who’s chance to sprint was delayed by Renshaw’s actions.
"We are in the sport of cycling, we're not in combat,” said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux. “They all could have ended up on their backs tonight. We cannot accept that."
Renshaw played a crucial role in Cavendish’s six stage wins of the 2009 Tour and his three stage wins so far in this year’s edition, bringing his total Tour de France stage wins to 13. Their team’s aggressive approach to the competition has served them well until now.
“I’m lucky to have a guy who will put himself on the line for me like that,” said Cavendish. “He’s got incredible bike handling skills and it’s so nice to be able to follow his wheel from 50 kilometers to go and know that, at the finish, I’ll be put in a winning position.”
Pescheux said that one look at the video was enough to earn Renshaw a disqualification. As Cavendish sprinted for the win in the final 500m, Dean came very close to Renshaw in trying to set-up Farrar for a sprint. While elbows and shoulders will clash in bunch sprints, the declassified rider’s headbutts were uncalled for.
"I jumped my front wheel in Cav's wheel,” said Dean. “I went past Renshaw and tried to keep the speed high and while I was coming out of Renshaw, he didn't seem to like it too much. I didn't make any movement at all. Next thing I felt like he was leaning on me and hitting me with his head."
The New Zealander said that the Australian’s worst offence was not the headbutting, but a dangerous block of Farrar after the sprinter leapt ahead of them within the barriers.
"It's dangerous behaviour and if there had been a crash there it would have caused some guys some serious damage.”
Renshaw explained, before the UCI disqualified him, that Dean had put him in danger of crashing into the barriers, who was forcing him to the left, which was supported by Cavendish. The stage winner explained that there was a risk of their handlebars tangling when Dean and Renshaw’s elbows became hooked.
“It was Julian who put his elbow in and if Mark didn’t push back there was a chance they could have locked elbows and gone down,” said Cavendish. “Mark just kept going and did everything he could to keep me out of trouble.”
Alessandro Petacchi, who took the green jersey from Thor Hushovd in today’s stage, wasn’t so quick to choose sides. The Italian finished the stage second to Cavendish to take the lead in the points classification, but explained that the final sprint was difficult for everybody.
"I haven't seen the sprint properly," he said. "I saw Renshaw going head to head with Julian Dean but I also saw Dean trying to box Renshaw in."
Former professional cyclist and mentor of Cavendish’s Allan Peiper was quick to comment against the disqualification.
“The other day we see one rider seeking out another to hit him with a wheel that he’s removed from a bike. I’ve seen the images. And today I didn’t see similar aggression. Farrar moved in and started to force Renshaw into the barriers but he was having none of it, he had no choice – he had to defend himself," said Peiper.
What happened in the 11th Stage should be a message to all the riders left in the Tour. Ride hard, but ride safe.
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