Eleven months after Richie Porte lay sprawled on a wet mountain with his Tour de France dream as shattered as his pelvis, he is heading back fresh from the biggest win of his career.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This was the Launceston 33-year-old’s own assessment of a Tour de Suisse victory which he believed trumps several previous World Tour stage race successes, including Paris-Nice twice.
“I'd say so. I've won at races like Paris-Nice, Volta Catalunya and Tour de Romandie but this race is so special,” Porte said.
“This was a big goal. Let's not beat around the bush. It's a very important race and I think it's disrespectful to say it's a 'lead in' race for the Tour de France as it means a lot to win it. It's such a prestigious race.
“So, I think going forward into the Tour de France, it's a good sign to win here. It would have been nice to have won a stage here and maybe if the breakaway hadn't stayed away on Thursday's stage, I would have won one but, at the end of the day, to win the general classification was the big goal and I'm still happy with the victory.
“I'm ready for the Tour de France. I did a good race here. I'm not at the top of my form just yet so I am excited for July.”
The Tour de Suisse was the most successful race in the history of Porte’s Swiss-backed BMC team, which won the opening team time trial, held the yellow jersey throughout and also won the ninth-stage individual time trial through Swiss time trial champion Stefan Küng.
I'm ready for the Tour de France. I'm not at the top of my form just yet so I am excited for July
- Richie Porte
But it was the general classification win that was most highly sought-after and catapulted Porte up to fifth in the World Tour rankings, topped by Slovakian world champ Peter Sagan.
Leading Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) by 17 seconds going into the 34.1km race against the clock in Bellinzona, Porte clocked 40:48 to finish 14th, 64 seconds behind Küng, and extended his overall margin of victory to 1:02 over Jacob Fulgsang (Astana) who leapfrogged Quintana into second.
Porte said winning his maiden Tour de Suisse could not have come at a better time having finished second in Tour Down Under and third in Tour de Romandie earlier this season with the Tour de France to start on July 7.
“Before this race, I hadn't raced since Tour de Romandie,” he said.
“I was at home for the birth of my son two weeks ago and I've only had one night at home with him so, I think it's great for me to get to go home for a bit of time before a training camp and then hopefully I'll be better at the Tour de France."
Porte dedicated the win to BMC’s Swiss owner Andy Rihs, who died in April.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
