Eight months after beginning their season training together in Tasmania, Porte and Chris Froome were celebrating the Brit’s second grand tour title in the knowledge that they would be rivals in next year’s race.

‘‘It’s nice to leave this team on a high,’’ Porte said. ‘‘I’ve made some life-long friends here and it’s just such a great way to finish it off.’’

The 30-year-old Launceston rider played a pivotal role in Froome’s 2013 and 2015 victories as well as that of Bradley Wiggins in 2012.

Despite being ill and on antibiotics for the last 10 days of this year’s race, he provided invaluable assistance to Froome through the Alps having finished second to him on stage 9 in the Pyrenees.

Immediately after that stage, Porte announced he would be leaving Sky and although he can’t reveal where he is going until August 1, he is widely expected to join Cadel Evans’ former team BMC Racing in 2016.

‘‘I’ve had a great four years here, I’ve got some really good friends here, but I feel like it is time to move on, as sad as that is,’’ Porte said.

‘‘I’ve got to take my own opportunities. I’m in the prime of my career now, these next few years, and I need to go and lead a team.’’

As Froome became the first rider to claim both general classification and king of the mountain jerseys since Eddy Merckx in 1970, he was at pains to stress it was a team rather than an individual victory.

‘‘I want to start off by thanking my teammates,’’ he said on the Champs Elysees podium. ‘‘Without you guys I would not be standing up here. Richie, Wout, Ian, G, Pete, Luke, Nico and Leo. My utmost respect and gratitude. This is your yellow jersey as much as it is mine.’’

Team Sky also highlighted the Tasmanian’s role, saying: ‘‘On Alpe d’Huez, Richie Porte showed why he is one of the most feared climbers in the world, battling back from illness to rip the race apart in support of his friend and teammate.’’

Although BMC also cannot discuss impending signings, manager Jim Ochowicz told Cyclingnews earlier this month that the team had tried to sign Porte when he left Saxo Bank for Team Sky.

‘‘We were looking for Richie three or four years ago and we came close to signing him at that point,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve known him for years. Cadel knows him, he’s a nice kid.’’

Asked by SBS presenter and Launceston Cycling Classic commentator Mike Tomalaris whether he would be bringing Froome back to his home town again for next year’s race, Porte added: ‘‘Probably not now we’re not teammates. We’ll see.’’