Renshaw downplays Aussie road title chances

The 29-year-old won silver at the national criterium titles in Ballarat last night in what was his first race in Rabobank colours with Anthony Giacoppo taking line honours in a bunch sprint and Steele Von Hoff third.

Renshaw will this year embark on what could be a career-defining season as he makes the transition from the world’s best lead-out man to marquee sprinter for the Dutch squad.

“I think the year revolves around the Tour de France. It’s the biggest race so to make sure I get the selection in the team and then to have the ability to challenge for a stage win (is the biggest objective),” the Bathurst pro told Cycling Central prior to last night’s criterium titles.

Renshaw says Sunday’s 163.2km men’s national road championships in Buninyong will be more of a hit-out ahead of the Tour Down Under later this month, which doubles as the first WorldTour event of the season.

“I’d love to win a stage in the Tour Down Under. A stage win there would I think be a great start to the season and just make sure we start on the right foot with Rabobank,” he said.

“At nationals, I’d be happy to finish the race and if it was a top 10 I’d be stoked. That means I’m in quite good form and I’ve got around a hard race. I think that’s a pretty realistic goal.”

Renshaw is under no illusion about the challenges he faces this year but is ready for them; his attitude to the 2012 season perhaps best surmised in his new Twitter bio, ‘Pressure makes diamonds...’.

Renshaw has undertaken a different approach to training in the off-season, aware he needs to perform and will now, as a marquee sprinter, be a marked man in the pro peloton as he races for his own victories and against former teammates including road world champion, Mark Cavendish with whom he built a formidable professional partnership with over three years.

“It’s been a lot more power and explosiveness orientated to change for the sprint,” he said of his training.

“I’ve done a few more longer rides and maybe a few more kilometres in total but I think the build-up has been good and I think the power outputs I’m doing I’m happy with. It’s now just putting it into practice.”

Renshaw has been vocal in his objection to the Australian road titles being hosted on a fixed course he believes is too difficult for pure sprinters and doesn’t allow them a genuine shot at the green and gold jersey.

He doesn’t think the presence of a strong GreenEDGE squad will change how the race pans out compared to previous years.

“I think we’ll still see not many finishers and we’ll probably see someone arrive with one or two guys for the win,” he said. “The course is just too challenging to have any other outcome for the race.”

Renshaw however has decided to return to the race where he will compete for the first time alongside new teammate Michael Matthews with whom he is yet to talk to about race strategy.

Australia’s first ProTeam GreenEDGE will field 16 riders in the event including defending champion Jack Bobridge and 2010 gold medallist Travis Meyer. The team has power in numbers but is unlikely to receive any support from the peloton.

“I think for us it will be simple to follow them but in saying that there’s two options that GreenEDGE have,” Renshaw said. “They can either come out and go from the gun … or they can ride a more traditional race, like in Europe, where they control it, let a few go in the break and then slowly bring it back for their team leaders. Until we see that, it’s going to have to be tactics on the run.

“I dare say there’ll be some whispering going on before the start. There’s a couple of other powerhouse squads – Garmin and even the Genesys team. I haven’t had a look at the start list but there are probably a few other teams that have some numbers and some riders that can challenge for the win.

“I think it’ll be a race of survival for Michael and myself. The course doesn’t suit me and Graeme so much – a bit more for Michael. I don’t know if he’s done any racing up until now but he might have the legs to get around with the guys going for the win, but, I think, personally, we’ll just be following.”

The national men’s road race has attracted a 174-strong field this year. The event kicks off at 12.15pm (AEDT) with SBS live coverage and Cycling Central live streaming from 2pm.

Twitter: @SophieSmith86