Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[movingtarget]

I think Sky will go into the Giro with neither rider favoured. Porte has only led a team in a GT once, the rest of the time he has been helping others so he is still learning about his capabilities to ride with the best over three weeks. Konig obviously is talented but it's early days yet. Not many riders can be strong for three weeks. I think having a healthy Porte in the Giro against Contador will answer a lot of questions. If he finishes in the top 3 I think that the team would accept that. Outside the top 5 then his days as a team leader at Sky are numbered especially if younger riders keep improving. And if Konig is as good as some are saying then he should definitely finish in the top 5.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Porte will be the captain in the Giro without a doubt.

Sky will start with two GC leaders.

König is the more talented GT specialist between the two of them, without a doubt.

I think Porte will be the leader, with free role for Konig

 

[Red Rick]

On one hand Porte might be the most dangerour rival for Contador in the Giro. On the other hand, he's always failed had terrible days in GT's and when I stopped to think about it his best efforts were all on medium difficulty climbs, so something tells me he's not very dangerous when the huge mountains arive.

 

[Vesica]

Re: Re:

Porte will be the captain in the Giro without a doubt.

Sky will start with two GC leaders.

König is the more talented GT specialist between the two of them, without a doubt.

I think Porte will be the leader, with free role for Konig

'free role' is a non existing word in Sky's dictionary...

 

[DBotero]

Great performance today,maybe finally Richie year has come,time to challenge for a podium place in IL Giro.
No way that Sky will support 2 leaders in Giro,Konig must deliver some domestique duties before qualify for supported rider role.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yeah, Porte is definitely Contador's greatest rival at the Giro. Noone else stands a chance. Most likely, Porte will lose a lot of time somewhere, though.

 

[maxmartin]

Porte is on the path to win his first possible first GT, but his bad days history still looms around in the background.

 

[oldcrank]

I will admit to being somewhat disappointed with the
sport page headline writers today. I was hoping for:
'Porte Pulverises Pretenders' or perhaps
'Richie Routs Rivals on Riviera' or possibly
'Virtuosic Victory by Valiant Vandemonian'

 

[rm7]

What do people think about Portes form regarding the Giro? I dont think I've never seen someone so good in Paris-Nice who got ambitions for GC in the Giro.

 

[HelloDolly]

I am a little worried about how good his form has been since TDU and needs to keep it right thru to May ( and JUy for the Tour) ...he is super slim and that is hard to do...The super slim get ill alot

If he can keep this form then he is a very serious contender to win the Giro ....but that is a big if

 

[greenedge]

Re:

What do people think about Portes form regarding the Giro? I dont think I've never seen someone so good in Paris-Nice who got ambitions for GC in the Giro.

I know Nibali rode T-A but Nibali in 2013

 

[Catwhoorg]

Re: Re:

Porte will be the captain in the Giro without a doubt.

Sky will start with two GC leaders.

König is the more talented GT specialist between the two of them, without a doubt.

I think Porte will be the leader, with free role for Konig

'free role' is a non existing word in Sky's dictionary...

Free role only exists if the GC leader is out of the race

See Wiggo twice (TDF crash and Giro) and last year once Froome withdrew and Porte got dropped big time.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

I will admit to being somewhat disappointed with the
sport page headline writers today. I was hoping for:
'Porte Pulverises Pretenders' or perhaps
'Richie Routs Rivals on Riviera' or possibly
'Virtuosic Victory by Valiant Vandemonian'

Triumphant Tasmanian tames the time trial

 

[phanatic]

Porte's form is a good sign, given that Sky doesn't pursue the peak philosophy so much as an extended, extraordinary base, and all whilst using a powerful train to avoid wearing the top talent too thin.

 

[rm7]

Re: Re:

What do people think about Portes form regarding the Giro? I dont think I've never seen someone so good in Paris-Nice who got ambitions for GC in the Giro.

I know Nibali rode T-A but Nibali in 2013

Yeah i forgot about that, but still Nibali wasn't at 100 % when he won T-A that year. He won by the attack on the hilly stage, not because he was super strong.

Porte seems to be peaking, where Nibali was building his form that year.

Of course we dont know if Portes shape actually is 100 %, but if he could get better, then he's gonna be a beast in the Giro.

What im thinking is that AC will be at his best in the 3rd week of the Giro, and Porte will fade like Froome Tour 2013.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Porte has yet to ride a Grand Tour GC competitively. He has flashes of tremendous form but has at least one bad day that spells doom. Maybe this will be his breakthrough

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

I think Sky will go into the Giro with neither rider favoured. Porte has only led a team in a GT once, the rest of the time he has been helping others so he is still learning about his capabilities to ride with the best over three weeks. Konig obviously is talented but it's early days yet. Not many riders can be strong for three weeks. I think having a healthy Porte in the Giro against Contador will answer a lot of questions. If he finishes in the top 3 I think that the team would accept that. Outside the top 5 then his days as a team leader at Sky are numbered especially if younger riders keep improving. And if Konig is as good as some are saying then he should definitely finish in the top 5.

Is porte contract expire this season? It will be interesting to see if he is out top 5 and he is out the contract this season. Couple years ago he said he had to leave sky if he wanted to be a team leader for TDF. If he stays again with Sky for another 2 years, he won't be leading TDF as long as Froome is there. Not even a co leader. A back up plan yes. But that's different than being a co-leader.

 

[greenedge]

I think the leading candidates to then sign him could be TCS, BMC and OGE.
TCS will have Contador retiring the next year, BMC have TJVG and OGE would love to have Australia's best GC hope. All three would have compelling cases for Richie; Bjarne, money and national ties.

 

[Gloin22]

Re: Re:

I think Sky will go into the Giro with neither rider favoured. Porte has only led a team in a GT once, the rest of the time he has been helping others so he is still learning about his capabilities to ride with the best over three weeks. Konig obviously is talented but it's early days yet. Not many riders can be strong for three weeks. I think having a healthy Porte in the Giro against Contador will answer a lot of questions. If he finishes in the top 3 I think that the team would accept that. Outside the top 5 then his days as a team leader at Sky are numbered especially if younger riders keep improving. And if Konig is as good as some are saying then he should definitely finish in the top 5.

Is porte contract expire this season? It will be interesting to see if he is out top 5 and he is out the contract this season. Couple years ago he said he had to leave sky if he wanted to be a team leader for TDF. If he stays again with Sky for another 2 years, he won't be leading TDF as long as Froome is there. Not even a co leader. A back up plan yes. But that's different than being a co-leader.

Yes, from what I heard he's asking for silly money.

If Sky gives him what he wants he stays, if not he'll move on to OGE. I think it's as simple as that.

 

[movingtarget]

If Porte stays at Sky he won't be team leading in GTs unless he does something exceptional in the Giro otherwise he will be paid to win races like Paris - Nice and support Froome. Let's face it anyone who has won Paris-Nice twice and proved himself as a good domestique in the Tour won't be earning money like Froome or Contador but the money will be very good all the same. If he does nothing in the Giro of note other teams may not be willing to offer big money for him. It is an important race for Porte but he will need some results in GTs to back his ambitions and he has already turned 30. I would not be surprised if he stayed at Sky but a good result in the Giro will probably mean his value increases and he will surely go.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just love the fact that he uses swimming as a way of training.
Guess it's not for nothing they call him Fish!

 

[ICEROCK]

Re:

If Porte stays at Sky he won't be team leading in GTs unless he does something exceptional in the Giro otherwise he will be paid to win races like Paris - Nice and support Froome. Let's face it anyone who has won Paris-Nice twice and proved himself as a good domestique in the Tour won't be earning money like Froome or Contador but the money will be very good all the same. If he does nothing in the Giro of note other teams may not be willing to offer big money for him. It is an important race for Porte but he will need some results in GTs to back his ambitions and he has already turned 30. I would not be surprised if he stayed at Sky but a good result in the Giro will probably mean his value increases and he will surely go.

Nah, we will see how Froom farts this year. He seems is suffering Australian Swimming Training Fatigue Syndrome (ASTFS). If Froom is out, Porte will be leader unless guys like GT or WP step up.

 

[ray j willings]

Re:

Porte has yet to ride a Grand Tour GC competitively. He has flashes of tremendous form but has at least one bad day that spells doom. Maybe this will be his breakthrough

Naah Chance guvnor

 

[DBotero]

Decent performance today,looking in good condition.I hope he'll be ready to challenge for a podium or even the win in Giro

 

[rhubroma]

Let us see what he does. Remember he was the strongest cyclist in the world at the Tour Down Under.