Launceston cyclist Richie Porte has returned to competition by getting acquainted with his wife Gemma's homeland.
In his first race since the Tokyo Olympics, the 36-year-old father-of-two is competing in the week-long Tour of Britain.
Porte sits 49th overall, 1:54 off the pace of American leader Robin Carpenter, but has helped INEOS Grenadiers take the lead of the teams classification while teammate Ethan Hayter (+26) is leading the points category and sitting third overall in his home-country tour having come second on stage two into Exeter.
Having begun in Cornwall in the far south-west, the tour winds its way up through Wales, across northern England and into Scotland, finishing in Aberdeen on Sunday.
Monaco-based Porte came 48th in the Olympic road race and 27th in the time trial after finishing his 11th Tour de France in 38th. He also won the Critérium du Dauphiné in June.
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.
