Renshaw will miss TdU

Mark Renshaw – the ace lead-out man at Columbia-HTC – will miss the Tour Down Under as he recovers from Epstein-Barr.

Team officials reported that Renshaw is “showing good initial progress” since being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr in early December, said Team Columbia-HTC doctor Helge Riepenhof.

Renshaw, who was a key part of Team Columbia-HTC’s 2009 record success of 85 victories, skipped training camp in December and will continue his recuperation during the first races of the season. The team is closely monitoring his condition and his blood tests already show improvement.

“We don’t see his 2010 season goals in any danger,” said team manager Rolf Aldag. “He would have loved to race in Tour Down Under but we are confident that he will once again show great performances in the Grand Tours as a lead out for Mark Cavendish, and that he will be just as strong as he was this year.

“He may even be fresher for the second half of the season, when the world championships take place in his home country,” he added.

While resting from heavy training, Renshaw has been active in the community, organizing an event to raise money for Prostate cancer.

FILED UNDER: News / Road TAGS: Columbia-HTC / Mark Renshaw / Tour Down Under

Charles Pelkey

Charles Pelkey joined VeloNews in 1994 after serving as press secretary for former GOP Whip Alan K. Simpson in the U.S. Senate. Pelkey has worked as a journalist since 1985 and held a number of editorial positions at VeloNews including Senior Editor of VeloNews.com. Pelkey earned a JD from the University of Wyoming College of Law and lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with Diana, his wife of 25 years, and their two children, Philip and Annika, whose presence serves as a constant reminder of what really matters. Pelkey left VeloNews in July, 2011, but continues to be a regular contributor. Charles can now be found at liveupdateguy.com

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