“Obviously I’m out of [general classification] now so I’d like to win a stage somewhere,” said Launceston’s BMC team leader.

The 14.5-kilometre race up Mont Brouilly saw Julian Alaphillipe (Quickstep-Floors) win in 21’39” to take the leader’s yellow jersey.

“That’s the first time trial I’ve done since the Tour de France last year,” Porte added. “I’ve got a new bike and I feel happy on it so it’s good.”

​Tasmania’s Rio Olympians Georgia Baker and Amy Cure have been handed conditional places at next month’s track world championships.

Baker, 22, of Perth, and Cure, 24, of West Pine, were named alongside Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Rebecca Wiasak (ACT), Alexandra Manly (SA), and Kristina Clonan (Queensland) in the 22-member Australian squad for the titles in Hong Kong from April 12-16.

However, an asterisk next to the six-strong women’s track endurance quota stated that the final team of five will be chosen by coach Gary Sutton following the first week of the final preparation camp in Adelaide later this month. 

Tasmanians Madeleine Fasnacht and Anya Louw finished third and fifth respectively in the junior women’s individual time trial at the Oceania road championships.

Fasnacht’s bronze medal performance was 13.5 seconds behind South Australia winner Maeve Moroney-Plouffe in Tidbinbilla.