Decathlon CMA CGM has introduced two new team directors: Heinrich Haussler and Mark Renshaw. The former pros from Australia are transferring from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and XDS Astana respectively. Renshaw will play a key role in the sprint project around Olav Kooij at Decathlon CMA CGM.
"The arrival of Mark Renshaw and Heinrich Haussler fits within the vision of the team's sporting and international development," says team manager Sébastien Joly on Decathlon AG2R’s website, which is the team's name until January 1, 2026. "These two new team directors provide a balance between the French team culture and the Anglo-Saxon riders and staff."
"Mark Renshaw will focus on the sprint project, thanks to his experience as a lead-out man and his successes as a sporting director. Heinrich Haussler will form an excellent team for the classics together with Luke Rowe and Julien Jurdie: his true passion for these races will be a great advantage. They are two professionals who have experienced the recent evolution of cycling. Their profiles create a perfect balance between experience as riders and as sporting directors, with modern working methods. We are very happy to welcome them to the team."
Renshaw and the sprint train for Kooij
Renshaw joins from XDS Astana. In 2023, he moved to the Kazakh team as coach of Mark Cavendish, whom he pulled in sprints for many years during his career. In 2024 and 2025, he was also a team director at Astana, but now he is starting a new project. At Decathlon CMA CGM, he can once again work on building a sprint train—this time for Olav Kooij. With riders like Daan Hoole, Robbe Ghys, and Cees Bol, the French outfit already has multiple pieces that can function in the lead-out for the Dutchman.
For Renshaw, who began his active cycling career in 2004 with Fdjeux.com, it also feels like coming full circle. "I started my professional career in a French team, so returning to France really feels like completing a cycle. Working with some of the best sprinters in the peloton, aiming to win races at the highest level, is hugely motivating as a sporting director."
"The presence of a dedicated sprint train was the key factor that convinced me to join the team. It's very motivating to build something exceptional for the coming seasons."
Haussler for the classics
Like Renshaw, Heinrich Haussler is looking forward to starting at Decathlon CMA CGM. "The team will keep growing and the project for the coming years is very ambitious; I’m happy to contribute to that. I want to share my experience as a rider and team director, to pass it on to the younger generation. I’m eager to learn how the team works and to advise the riders with my classics experience."
In those classics, Haussler will work with riders such as Oliver Naesen and Tiesj Benoot, who, like Kooij, is transitioning from Visma | Lease a Bike. On paper, Benoot is the designated leader for the spring cobbled races.
