Australian Richie Porte has hit back at detractors of cycling’s dominant Sky team as he prepares for a rare one-day classic start.
The in-form Tasmanian will be the Sky team leader on Wednesday night (AEST) at La Fleche Wallonne in Belgium, the second of the three Ardennes Classics.
Porte was leading last month’s Criterium International stage race in France, but teammate Chris Froome rode away from him on the last stage to take the title.
Their tactics prompted more internet discussion of a team that has become a lightning rod for criticism.
Sky’s domination has inevitably led to speculation in the post-Armstrong era about how they are achieving that success.
The riders and team management have repeatedly insisted they are a clean team.
“There was a lot of crap thrown our way at Criterium International but really, it’s the oldest trick in the book,” Porte said in a post on the cyclingnews website.
“It’s tall poppy syndrome and everybody wants to throw everything they can at Team Sky and question everything about the team.
“It’s getting a bit old now (and) people are going to have to get over it.
“It’s not new but in the twitter age, every Tom, dickhead and Harry’s got a voice.”
Porte has been outstanding so far this season, becoming the first Australian to win the Paris-Nice stage race and also taking out a stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
There is a growing sense that he could soon step out of the shadows of Froome and Brad Wiggins and lead Sky in one of the Grand Tours.
Porte insists his job for the time being remains a mountain domestique.
But he will be Sky’s hope at La Fleche Wallonne after a spring classics campaign that has been barren so far for the super team.
“La Fleche Wallonne is new territory for me,” Porte said.
“Why I’ve never ridden the Ardennes is a bit of a mystery.
“I’ve always wanted to do it but for one reason and another, it hasn’t happened.
“As for my own chances, why not? I’m not really going to fear anybody at the moment, am I?”
Simon Gerrans will be the other big Australian hope after the Orica-GreenEDGE star finished third on Sunday at Amstel Gold, the opening Ardennes classic.
Another Australian to watch is David Tanner (Blanco), who impressed Porte with his ride at Amstel Gold.
“The English commentators really didn’t know who the hell he was which was a little bit sad for me,” Porte said.
“How can such a good bike rider still be so underrated? He’s always there.”
Other Australians set for La Fleche Wallonne starts are Rory Sutherland (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) and Gerrans’ teammates Simon Clarke, Michael Matthews, Travis Meyer and Wes Sulzberger.
The only Australian to have won the race is Cadel Evans in 2010.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
'People have to get over it' is such a terrible response. Really myopic. The fans are the ones, at the end of the day, that mean these guys have incomes, and they want us to just start believing and stop criticising just like that. Maybe they can ask David Brailsford to pay for bi-weekly testing and publish all results online and then we can say OK. It's like being cuckolded 10 times then still being asked to believe in the fidelity of your partner. You'd have to be a fool, really, wouldn't you?
Calum
Guest
+1
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Nothing against his harsh words and comments as such but a bit of understanding on his behalf would have been nice. Why not start by acknowledging that it's understandable that people have their doubts considering what has happened in cycling in the last 15 years? It would go a long way in restoring confidence in the cycling world. Whether he likes it or not, there are reasons why people are questioning his team's dominance.