Nothing hastened Richie Porte’s rehabilitation more than the latest news from the race responsible for his injuries.
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Three months after the sickening high-speed crash that ended his 2017 Tour de France, the Launceston rider gained renewed motivation from the announcement of the race’s 2018 route on Wednesday.
As Porte flew to Japan to return to competitive racing for the first time since sustaining a fractured collarbone and pelvis near Chambery, Tour de France organisers unveiled a course well suited to his skillset.
A team time trial (35 kilometres on stage 3 in Cholet) and return to the famed cobbles (21.7km on stage 9) will suit a BMC outfit packed with experts against the clock and in one-day classics while a finish on L’Alpe d’Huez (175km on stage 12 from Bourg-Saint-Maurice Les Arcs) and hilly 31km individual time trial (stage 20 from Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle to Espelette) were warmly welcomed by the team’s leader.
“This route really motivates me to put in the big miles early in order to be there in top form,” Porte told The Examiner.
“Uphill time trial, that’s my thing. I’d love to win a stage of the Tour. I’ve been close but not quite got there.
“Cobbles are not such a big deal for a guy of my stature. It’s harder for the bigger guys. It puts all the (general classification) guys on edge. It’s stressful, but it’s the same for everyone.
“We’ve got Greg van Avermaet whose pretty much won all those races and that makes things a bit easier. BMC have got some of the best classic riders going so they are there to help me through that crap.”
After exiting this year’s Tour on the treacherous Mont du Chat descent of stage 9, Porte joined the huge global television audience as his long-time friend Chris Froome claimed a fourth title.
He returned to Launceston from his European base in Monaco last week and flew to Japan on Tuesday for what will be both his first race back and his last for the year.
Having begun the year by winning the Tour Down Under, Tour de Romandie and the queen stage of Paris-Nice, Porte said it had been a bitter-sweet campaign.
“It was a mixed season. It was such a great start with everything on track then it was disaster at the Tour.
“If you have a high-speed crash as I did at close to 80km/h it’s not great psychologically but at the end of the day it’s a job and all jobs have some risks so I’m OK with that. The hardest thing for me was not the broken bones, it was losing the result I could have had on the Tour.
“It was hard watching the rest of the Tour and the races since. I’m paid to race bikes and that’s what you want to be doing so mentally that was not easy. But it makes me more motivated for next season.
“I’m 32 now and the next couple of years are big ones for me. To have a year when I only did half the Tour when I was in such good form really hurt.”
While not completely recovered, Porte said his return to familiar territory had given him a welcome boost.
“It’s still a bit painful but with time it should be fine. Nothing too serious.
“I’ve been getting up to the Launceston pool now I’m able to swim again. I’m looking forward to getting back to fitness and trying again.”
Fond memories of riding the Japan Cup in 2013 convinced him that the 144km one-day race in Utsunomiya would be an ideal place to return.
“It’s one of the more fun races. It was either this or a race in China and I thought I’d rather go back and do a race I know and enjoy.
“It’s a totally different mindset because I’m not going to win but just trying to finish would be a victory for me at this point.
“I’ve done the Scottsdale loop twice and that doesn’t lie so I know it’s going to be a battle to finish but I’m looking forward to it. It’s 144km but with my fitness level I will feel each one of them.
“The Japanese fans are really incredible so it's always a great atmosphere at the race. I can definitely say it's one of my favorites. Given I haven't raced since July, I'm not going in with any expectations. I'm just happy to be racing again this year before my focus turns to the 2018 season.”
BMC’s team for Japan, which also includes experienced Swiss trio Michael Schär, Danilo Wyss and the retiring Martin Elmiger plus Dutch stagiaire Bram Welten, will also contest a criterium on Saturday.
The hardest thing for me was not the broken bones it was losing the result I could have had on the Tour
- Richie Porte
Sports director Fabio Baldato said Porte’s return had sent a positive vibe through the squad.
“We are really happy to see Richie back at the start line for the first time since his Tour de France crash,” he said.
“Although we are lining up at the last race of the season, the Japan Cup will be a good chance for Richie to get back into the racing rhythm before he starts a solid off-season.”
Porte plans to make full use of familiar home-state roads to prepare for what will be his eighth Tour de France and 13th Grand Tour.
Seeking to improve on his best finish of fifth in 2016, the two-time Paris-Nice winner has recently re-signed for another two years which will keep him at BMC until the end of 2019.
After Japan, he will return to Tasmania for Steve Waugh’s charity ride before returning to Europe for a team camp in December and has declared himself unavailable to ride the Stan Siejka Launceston Classic on November 12.