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Porte rapt with cycling form

24th January, 2015
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Bitter disappointment was mixed with great anticipation for Riche Porte after Saturday’s near-miss at the Tour Down Under.

The Australian cycling star repeated his feat of a year ago, attacking near the end of the Willunga Hill climb to win the Santos Tour’s famed Queen stage.

But whereas he was not in the hunt for the overall title last year, this time he failed to overhaul race leader Rohan Dennis by just two seconds.

Dennis most likely will hold that advantage through Sunday’s final stage in Adelaide.

“To be honest it is a big disappointment – two seconds – but credit to him,” Porte admitted.

But Porte also has much bigger fish to fry this year than starring in January.

After a season wracked by ill health, he is determined to lead Sky at the Giro d’Italia in May.

With Cadel Evans about to retire, he would love to show he can be Australia’s next Grand Tour contender in races such as the Giro and Tour de France.

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Earlier this month, Porte claimed his first national title when he took out the individual time trial at the Australian road championships.

Coupled with his solid form at the Tour, it shows his disciplined off-season in Tasmania is paying off.

“I’m in a much better mindset this year – I have been much more professional in my off season and I am healthy and so motivated going into this season,” he said.

“People are always going to say you peaked too early or whatever, but I haven’t done anything other than ride my bike and watch my diet.

“I am happy now, recently engaged and I feel like I am growing up.

“Cadel leaves a bit of a void but I would love to step it up and try and emulate him.”

And for all the frustration of not taking the race lead from Dennis, Porte admitted it felt great to win again on Willunga Hill.

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“Hindsight is an absolutely wonderful thing in cycling,” he said of the timing of his blistering attack that won the stage.

“I have to be content … it is probably the stage to win and the crowd is absolutely amazing.

“It shows the legacy that Cadel has left.

“I have said it 10 times today, I will say it again – it’s like riding a stage of the Tour (de France).”

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