Mark Renshaw’s pursuit of a stage victory continues at the Tour of Qatar 2012
With one more stage to go at the Tour of Qatar, Mark Renshaw is hoping to end the race with a stage win in his bag.
The Australian is currently at the14th overall position after the stage 5 classifications. He is 1 minute and 32 seconds behind the general classifications leader Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step.
Mark finished 6th during the 142.5 kilometre opening stage of the race. Boonen won the event while Adam Blythe, Peter Sagan, Tyler Farrar and Daniel Oss claiming the next five spots.
Team Rabobank finished 9th during the team’s time trial stage 2 of the race and Mark was dropped down to the 38th overall spot after the second stage.
Team Garmin-Barracuda, Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Sky Procycling finished first, second and third during the second stage of the race.
The 29-year-old came close to a stage win during the 146.5 kilometre chase to Al Gharafa Stadium but could not match the likes of Cavendish, Boonen and Aidis Kruopis.
He finished fourth to achieve the 18th overall position at the race.
Mark’s pursuit to a stage win continued during the fourth and the fifth stage but he had to settle for the 19th and the 14th spot during the two stages.
After the fifth stage of the race, he told sbs.com au, “The GC is finished; we didn’t have anyone in the front group [yesterday] so it’s pretty disappointing. I just missed it when it split and then we had four guys flat all at the same time at the crucial moment”.
Renshaw continued, “We didn’t really have a chance in stage three or stage four with the wind. The last day is more of a criterium so that’s a good chance to practice with the train. We need to do something in the next two days”.
Mark started his professional career with Team FDJeux.com in 2004 and also represented Team Credit Agricole (2006-2008), Team Columbia-High Road (2009-2011) and finally accepted an offer from Team Rabobank for 2012 season.
He is now targeting the 120 kilometre stage 6 of the race scheduled between the Sealine Beach Resort and Doha Corniche to claim the first win of the season.
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