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Training with the pros: Mark Renshaw talks sprinting and lead-outs

Mark Cavendish's right-hand man reveals how to prepare for the bunch gallop and reflects on being reunited with the Manxman this season

Given the frantic nature of a bunch sprint, even the slightest wrong move can end any hopes of a race win.

Renshaw says the key to giving your sprinter the best chance of crossing the line with their arms in the air is experience and to learn from every race.

Cavendish and Renshaw both stood on the podium at the Tour of Turkey thanks to a perfect lead-out (Pic: Tim de Waele/OPQS)

Renshaw explains: “I think a lot of the lead-out is experience. It’s important to look back over sprints, see what what right and wrong, and how we can improve. It’s not always about what happened on the bike but also what happened off the bike which has helped us.

“I’ve been doing it a long time, so I do have the experience, but you also have to have strength and the cunningness to spot the right move at the right moment.

“You never have more than one, two seconds to make the right decision so you have to make the right one.

“It all comes down to experience on the day in terms of dealing with the different terrain. The wind speed, the layout of the road being up or down – it can all change everything. There is no set way to prepare for each individual sprint.”

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