The 36-year-old Tasmanian survived a dramatic final stage to secure a maiden Critérium du Dauphiné victory which had SBS cycling analyst Matt Keenan in no doubt where he sits in world cycling.

"Richie Porte confirms himself as one of the finest one-week stage racers of his generation," Keenan said.

"He's won pretty much all the one-week races there are and this has been a target for a while.

"Does Richie go to the Tour - third last year and winner of the Dauphiné - as one of the favourites?"

Re-signed by INEOS Grenadiers as a super-domestique, Porte was delighted to add to his wins at Paris-Nice (2013 and '15), Tour de Suisse (2018), Volta a Catalunya (2015), Tour de Romandie (2017), Giro del Trentino (2015) and Tour Down Under (2017 and '20).

"I'm under no illusions as to what my job is at the Tour," said the Launceston-born father-of-two. "To win this race just means so so much to me. It's a race I've always enjoyed, and to finally win it at 36 years old is a sweet moment.

"I've been second here twice and then I also lost second place one year in the last kilometre as well. To finally win it I'm just over the moon. For all the sacrifices and the time away from my wife and two kids, this makes it worth it."

Riding the 147-kilometre eighth stage from La Lechere-les-Bains to Les Gets in yellow, Monaco-based Porte survived his customary dramas - including a crash for teammate Geraint Thomas - to win by 17 seconds after nearly 30 hours in the saddle.

Kazakhstan's Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) came second while Welshman Thomas recovered to protect his teammate's lead and join him on the podium in third.

"This team INEOS Grenadiers were just absolutely brilliant today," Porte added.

"I know the descent of the Joux-Plane well. We've done it many, many times. I decided to do my own pace, then when I saw G (Thomas) crash obviously it wasn't ideal for the last six kilometres. But he came back, he's got some pretty bad road rash but he'll be tip top for the Tour."

INEOS also secured the team classification. Meanwhile, with Jack Haig finishing fifth and Ben O'Connor eighth, Keenan added: "This is a huge moment in Australian cycling. Three in the top 10 with Richie at the top, he'll bring home yellow."

A year after finishing third in Paris, Porte will begin his 11th Tour de France on June 26 in sublime form having podiumed in his three lead-in races, the Dauphine win following second places behind teammates at the Volta a Catalunya in March and Tour de Romandie last month.

INEOS Grenadiers have an embarrassment of riches available to them for the season's two remaining Grand Tours including two of the last three winners although young Colombian Egan Bernal has contracted COVID-19 since winning the Giro d'Italia last month.