Cavendish disappointed with Renshaw move

In an interview with the UK outlet, Cavendish said he was shocked upon hearing the news his current HTC-Highroad team-mate was bound for a new role at a different team in 2012.

Renshaw and Cavendish are arguably cycling’s most renowned sprint duo on the World Tour but after three years together and a barrage of Tour de France stage wins – most notably a one, two finish on the Champs Elysees in 2009 – the love affair is over.

“It was the equivalent of coming home and my girlfriend saying, ‘I’m leaving you,’ ” Cavendish told The Times.

“Just out of the blue. I didn’t have any clue it was coming. And it cut me deep, deep, deep, you know.

"You can’t make someone be loyal to you. But I was always loyal to him. I’ve always been loyal to other people.

“There are so many people I know. So many people who say ‘yes’ to me as well as people who hate me. But a real circle of trust? It’s a very small group. I will do anything for them. And I thought Mark was in there.

“You live and learn.”

The pair will part ways next season with Cavendish rumoured to be heading to the British-based team Sky for a reported £1.5 million (AUD$2.28 million).

Renshaw has signed a two-year contract with Rabobank as a marquee sprinter.

Renshaw, as well as Austrian sprinter Bernhard Eisel, was freed from his contract with HTC when the outfit announced after July’s Tour de France it would fold at season’s end for want of a sponsor.

Cavendish, who was out of contract at the end of this year, maintains he wanted to continue his professional partnership with Renshaw and Eisel at a new team.

“I can honestly say that I lost financially the biggest contract I will ever receive,” the 26-year-old Briton said.

“At the start of the year Mark was tied into a contract to HTC and I didn’t want to move without him. I put it off to stay with him.”

The comments come after Cavendish told Cycling Central he was “gutted” for his trade teammate on his non-selection for last month’s road world championships adding Renshaw’s omission would boost the chances of his British national team “significantly”.

Renshaw, before July’s Tour de France, said his future was “unclear” in the midst of HTC’s financial woes and Cavendish’s reported move to Sky adding the circumstances did not necessarily mean the pair would be separated from 2012.

The 28-year-old will chase his own opportunities next season with team Rabobank. The Bathurst professional, when afforded the break this year, won the Tour of Qatar as well as a stage of the Tour of Britain.

“The decision to pursue my dreams of winning stages at the Tour de France and other WorldTour races was too great,” Renshaw said in a recent statement on his website.

“I spent my days and nights thinking and to now get the chance is very exciting. I know many people will be upset to see me part ways with Mark Cavendish but he understands the drive I have within to win races.

"I have had many good memories with HTC staff and riders and it’s a shame the team had to come to an end this year.”