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Renshaw continues Blanco's golden run
After taking second on the final stage of the 2013 Tour Down Under behind Andre Greipel, Mark Renshaw (Blanco) delivered with aplomb in the Spanish one day race Clasica de Almeria to take his maiden win of the season.
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Stef Clement followed the moves in the peloton continuously, by chasing the breakaways... It was really impressive to have the level of riders we had here helping me to the victory. It was a collective victory of the team.
The 178.2km classic ended in a bunch sprint in Almeria with the Australian benefiting from a strong leadout in the finale to overcome Argos-Shimano's South African talent, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Francesco Lasca (Caja-Rural).
A break of three riders, David De La Cruz (NetApp-Endura), Pablo Urtasun and Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi) went away after 30km but were swept up by the peloton with some 60km still to race.
Argos-Shimano and Blanco were the biggest protagonists at the front of proceedings to keep things together for a sprint, and while a few counter moves went, none stuck.
Renshaw was led into the final corner by compatriot Dave Tanner, and timed his run well to hold off Janse van Rensburg by a bike length.
The win was Renshaw's second since joining the Rabobank/Blanco setup last season after a successful spell with Highroad. Renshaw came to Blanco in 2012 to try his hand as a lead sprinter, but has also been used as a key leadout rider for Dutch sprinter Theo Bos.
Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE) won last year's race.
A big thank you @blancocyclingboys today, Very happy to win #ClassicAlmeria after they rode so strong in the final. I am one happy boy!
— Mark Renshaw (@Mark_Renshaw) February 24, 2013
Clasica de Almeria: 178.2km, AlmeriaY el ganador ha sido el australiano Mark Renshaw del equipo Blanco. #clásicaAlmería #Roquetas twitter.com/AytoRoquetas/s…
— Ayto.Roquetas de Mar (@AytoRoquetas) February 24, 2013
1 Mark Renshaw (AUS) Blanco 4hr 30min 14sec
2 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Argos-Shimano
3 Francesco Lasca (ITA) Caja Rural
4 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi
5 Stéphane Poulhies (FRA) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
6 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (ESP) Movistar Team
7 Bartlomiej Matysiak (POL) CCC Polsat Polkowice
8 Dennis Vanendert (BEL) Lotto Belisol
9 Fabien Schmidt (FRA) Sojasun
10 Pim Ligthart (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM
