Renshaw joins Credit Agricole

By Jean-Francois Quenet

After two years with Francaise des Jeux, Australian cyclist Mark Renshaw will ride for Credit Agricole next year. The 23-year-old has signed a one year deal with team manager Roger Legeay, who said "For the balance of my team I needed riders of this age, able to win a four or five men sprint. That's why I've picked Renshaw and William Bonnet of Auber 93."

Legeay has worked with Australians before, the most notable being Stuart O'Grady, who left at the end of 2003 after a long stint with the squad. "I've always liked to work with Australians in the past but I haven't had any of them for the last few years." Phil Anderson began the stream of Australians who have ridden for the team, 25 years ago, when the colours of Peugeot represented what is now the Credit Agricole outfit. Renshaw enjoys a similar racing background to O'Grady, and this may be one reason Legeay offered the rider from Bathurst, in country NSW, a better package financially than Francaise des Jeux could, adding, "I think Renshaw is an interesting young rider for the future."