Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[MatParker117]

No fan of Porte at all but he should continue and try to make something positive of his Giro. Quiting now will leave that taste of failure in his mouth for long time.

Potentially being tasked with making sure Viviani makes time cuts/leading him out won't feel great either.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Re: Re:

Being mentally broken is almost worse than being physically damaged.

Because your body will always say stop before your mind.

I disagree. Porte has made the strategic decision to focus on the tour and therefore, has decided to not put in as much effort in this TT as he knew his chances of winning the Giro were shot once the 2 min penalty had been applied. No point expending all this energy trying to get on the podium when he can serve Froome at the Tour and possibly save some further energy for the Vuelta.

Porte is on a team. He can actually help his teammate Konig maybe get on the podium. Why save himself for the Vuelta? He's not a 3-week grand tour GC contender.

 

[Electress]

No fan of Porte at all but he should continue and try to make something positive of his Giro. Quiting now will leave that taste of failure in his mouth for long time.

I agree. But it probably depends what his condition is. If he's really that banged up there's no point in making the situation worse. STay if he has a realistic chance to achieve something, but being peloton fodder is pointless.

I think he's going to have the bitter taste of defeat for a long time. And Sky have not helped one bit. Because there's been a lot of talk, and very obvious stunts like the RV, but actually, the team he's had has been pretty weak. (And frankly, that RV stuff was always going to smack of massive hubris and hence, a high risk strategy). Indeed, I am starting to feel that Sky probably have always been as focused on taking as much power out of Alberto's legs to support Froome as they have a realistic GC bid.

Not that I like him that much, but I confess it annoys me a bit on Richie's behalf that all the #wheelgate nonsense somehow distracted the commentators from asking serious questions about how *** Team Sky were that day to allow him to get in that position in the first place.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Being mentally broken is almost worse than being physically damaged.

Because your body will always say stop before your mind.

I disagree. Porte has made the strategic decision to focus on the tour and therefore, has decided to not put in as much effort in this TT as he knew his chances of winning the Giro were shot once the 2 min penalty had been applied. No point expending all this energy trying to get on the podium when he can serve Froome at the Tour and possibly save some further energy for the Vuelta.

I agree. It is pointless if his hip and knee are causing problems. He rode really well for Froome in the 2013 Tour and his form was good before the Giro. Sky have won two stages and Koenig will top 10 and they could possibly win another stage so the race has not been a total write off although they would have hoped for a podium as well.

 

[Iker_Baqueiro]

Re: Re:

04 May 2015
First of all, I think that Porte's body fat is too low and unless there is something clinic related, his body will give up soon. (just come back and apologize during the Giro when Porte is out with some kind of illness or cracked completely)

As per his body type, my own theory is that a way below average size Caucasian man does not have the raw power/physique to win a three weeks long and hard GT. Thats all.

Err... What?

It makes no sense as Contador is a small Caucasian man too.

Excuse me, but, Contador is not Caucasian. By Caucasian, I understand Anglo. Contador is Latin/Mediterranean.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Well, once you start to dwell about abandon the race. You eventual will do that also:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/portes-continued-giro-ditalia-participation-uncertain-after-time-trial-disappointment

No surprise.

Once a quitter, always a quitter ...
Once a (GT) loser, always a (GT) loser ...

That boy has no heart ...

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

04 May 2015
First of all, I think that Porte's body fat is too low and unless there is something clinic related, his body will give up soon. (just come back and apologize during the Giro when Porte is out with some kind of illness or cracked completely)

As per his body type, my own theory is that a way below average size Caucasian man does not have the raw power/physique to win a three weeks long and hard GT. Thats all.

Err... What?

It makes no sense as Contador is a small Caucasian man too.

Excuse me, but, Contador is not Caucasian. By Caucasian, I understand Anglo. Contador is Latin/Mediterranean.

He either is caucasian, mongoloid or negroid. And while there has been discussion regarding Contador's head shape, I think we can safely assume he's none of the latter two.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

So these Sky guys...they all look frail mentally. One thing go wrong and it's au revoir.

But they still won two of the past three Tours and a podium in last year's Vuelta. Not too bad for a team of frail riders.

 

[HiroAntagonist]

Re: Re:

Well, once you start to dwell about abandon the race. You eventual will do that also:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/portes-continued-giro-ditalia-participation-uncertain-after-time-trial-disappointment

No surprise.

Once a quitter, always a quitter ...
Once a (GT) loser, always a (GT) loser ...

That boy has no heart ...

This. What a loser. Stupidity in the wheel change incident led the way to bad luck, and what is the response? "I may give up". What a *** pussy. Sky can suck it this giro. Where is the wherewithal to continue? Lame.

 

[hfer07]

Re: Re:

Well, once you start to dwell about abandon the race. You eventual will do that also:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/portes-continued-giro-ditalia-participation-uncertain-after-time-trial-disappointment

No surprise.

Once a quitter, always a quitter ...
Once a (GT) loser, always a (GT) loser ...

That boy has no heart ...

This. What a loser. Stupidity in the wheel change incident led the way to bad luck, and what is the response? "I may give up". What a **** pussy. Sky can suck it this giro. Where is the wherewithal to continue? Lame.

Oh Richie....... If you ever ever ever ever want to win a GT, why don't you start by finishing this one, out of respect for yourself, your team mates, your team, your fans & the race itself? why don't you confront this adversity with honor & accept that in order to win big, sometimes you have to lose big too.....

that's how CHAMPIONS behave

 

[spanky wanderlust]

if porte quits this giro i will place myself solidly in the 'sky hater' camp. it's pathetic to even mention that he might quit. it shows a real disrespect for the peloton, the race and the sport.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Well, once you start to dwell about abandon the race. You eventual will do that also:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/portes-continued-giro-ditalia-participation-uncertain-after-time-trial-disappointment

No surprise.

Once a quitter, always a quitter ...
Once a (GT) loser, always a (GT) loser ...

That boy has no heart ...

This. What a loser. Stupidity in the wheel change incident led the way to bad luck, and what is the response? "I may give up". What a **** pussy. Sky can suck it this giro. Where is the wherewithal to continue? Lame.

Oh Richie....... If you ever ever ever ever want to win a GT, why don't you start by finishing this one, out of respect for yourself, your team mates, your team, your fans & the race itself? why don't you confront this adversity with honor & accept that in order to win big, sometimes you have to lose big too.....

that's how CHAMPIONS behave

form and injury are temporary, class is permanent What a disappointing attitude from Porte. 2011 Contador TDF didn't go as plan either. He crashed and injured his knee. He stayed and finished 5th behind Voekler. That's what makes him a champion. Porte doesn't have the mental fortitude to overcome diversity. As soon as, everything goes sideways, he just crumbled mentally.

 

[Jimsnchz]

I don't like the "I've had bad luck". Wouldn't a dislocated shoulder be bad lluck? AC was also in the same crash that cost Richie, but his team reacted and limited time loss. Porte's bad luck has been mostly poor team racing, leaving him out then a crap TT.

 

[Yingge]

I agree with the posts above - seems that Porte has gotten into this 'I cant win, maybe I should go home' idea.

Look at Alberto - battled on after his shoulder popped out twice (most would have called it quits after the first), wasn't about to go home unless he couldn't hold onto the bars - and look where he is now.

Porte should look at his compatriot, Cadel Evans, who broke a bone in his elbow in the TdF in 2010, lost a heap of time as a result (as well as the yellow) in the mountain stage that followed, but refused to quit and rode on to Paris out of respect for his team. Evans is not the only one of course who kept going when all chances were lost, just one example. Others though, seem to pack up and go home when its all too much for their ego.

Hopefully he thinks better of it and starts tomorrow, rides for his team, and doesn't pull the pin on the rest day.

 

[Angliru]

Re:

if porte quits this giro i will place myself solidly in the 'sky hater' camp. it's pathetic to even mention that he might quit. it shows a real disrespect for the peloton, the race and the sport.

He has nothing to ride for especially if his knee and hip are as much of a hindrance to his performance as the itt implies. As far his also doing the Vuelta for the gc after the Tour, I think that would be recipe for disaster. He still has yet to show that he has the constitution for successfully competing for the gc in a grand tour over the entire 3 weeks. Two weeks of the Giro, the 3 weeks of the Tour and the Vuelta after a fairly busy scheduler prior to his Giro? He likely would fall apart completely at the Vuelta.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Re: Re:

if porte quits this giro i will place myself solidly in the 'sky hater' camp. it's pathetic to even mention that he might quit. it shows a real disrespect for the peloton, the race and the sport.

He has nothing to ride for especially if his knee and hip are as much of a hindrance to his performance as the itt implies. As far his also doing the Vuelta for the gc after the Tour, I think that would be recipe for disaster. He still has yet to show that he has the constitution for successfully competing for the gc in a grand tour over the entire 3 weeks. Two weeks of the Giro, the 3 weeks of the Tour and the Vuelta after a fairly busy scheduler prior to his Giro? He likely would fall apart completely at the Vuelta.

What's the point of riding the Vuelta? As a leader? He hasn't shown one iota of ability to do that in a GT.
As a helper? Well, he can start by helping Konig now.

Otherwise, I don't see why he would quit, other than just being a complete d-bag. I hope Konig gets his camper.

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Re:

if porte quits this giro i will place myself solidly in the 'sky hater' camp. it's pathetic to even mention that he might quit. it shows a real disrespect for the peloton, the race and the sport.

He has nothing to ride for especially if his knee and hip are as much of a hindrance to his performance as the itt implies. As far his also doing the Vuelta for the gc after the Tour, I think that would be recipe for disaster. He still has yet to show that he has the constitution for successfully competing for the gc in a grand tour over the entire 3 weeks. Two weeks of the Giro, the 3 weeks of the Tour and the Vuelta after a fairly busy scheduler prior to his Giro? He likely would fall apart completely at the Vuelta.

What's the point of riding the Vuelta? As a leader? He hasn't shown one iota of ability to do that in a GT.
As a helper? Well, he can start by helping Konig now.

Otherwise, I don't see why he would quit, other than just being a complete d-bag. I hope Konig gets his camper.

What would be the point of riding with an injury which obviously affects his performance (TTing worse than Aru is not normal and even biggest haters have to admit that)?
I don't get it. Isn't it more beneficial for Sky (his employer) and his own health to abandon Giro, heal up, and then go to the Tour rather than possible worsen his health (knee injury is not the best news in cycling) and negatively affect rest of the season?

You people wouldn't recognize logic if it hit you in the head.....

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Re: Re:

if porte quits this giro i will place myself solidly in the 'sky hater' camp. it's pathetic to even mention that he might quit. it shows a real disrespect for the peloton, the race and the sport.

He has nothing to ride for especially if his knee and hip are as much of a hindrance to his performance as the itt implies. As far his also doing the Vuelta for the gc after the Tour, I think that would be recipe for disaster. He still has yet to show that he has the constitution for successfully competing for the gc in a grand tour over the entire 3 weeks. Two weeks of the Giro, the 3 weeks of the Tour and the Vuelta after a fairly busy scheduler prior to his Giro? He likely would fall apart completely at the Vuelta.

if he quits due to injury, that would be totally legit. but that's not what we've been talking about.

he's talking about quitting because he's lost his gc hopes. if he does that, i can't see anyone on any team giving him a leadership role in a gt again.

he needs to stay the course and fight for a prestigious stage win. that's the only way he can prove he has what it takes. otherwise, save him for week-long stage races and domestique duties. there's no shame in that.

 

[Velolover2]

Winning a mountain stage is not something you just do.

Especially not if you are psychologically broken and have a hungry Astana train chasing you. Then what's the point? It's better that he is starting to look at the Tour instead.

 

[Yingge]

His knee couldn't have been much of a worry if he started the TT in the knowledge that he needed to push to the limit for 59km. But if it was that bad, shame on his Team for allowing him to start. Certainly the 'dicky knee' didn't help him in the TT, and the 2 minute business would have been on his mind too, but a lot of what he lost yesterday was probably due to the brain.

Sky bear part of the problem that he has of course - their PR machine put him up on a pedestal when he joined them in 2012, and more so after his Super-Domestique role for Wiggins in the TdF that year. The head has enlarged as a result. If he keeps believing the PR hype he will end up like Andy Schleck.

Yes, he is usually a good TT rider, and week long stage races have been good for him. Not the 3 week variety though. Perhaps he should go back to Tinkoff and ride GT's for Alberto - he might even be rewarded with a stage as a result.

 

[IndianCyclist]

He finished behind Viviani in the TT. Clearly he has lost the plot. Doubtful that he will be even able to help Konig. Better to go home & rest than risk further injury by crashing(given his luck will happen). Going to the tour is his fixation.Skip the tour and prepare for the Vuelta GC.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

He finished behind Viviani in the TT. Clearly he has lost the plot. Doubtful that he will be even able to help Konig. Better to go home & rest than risk further injury by crashing(given his luck will happen). Going to the tour is his fixation.Skip the tour and prepare for the Vuelta GC.

The Vuelta doesn't suit him the same way the Giro did. Too many short, steep hill top finishes. And you're not just riding two GTs as a leader. He got this chance as a leader of the Giro, but he lost it.

It's better than he take some rest (I'd say no stage racing before TDF) and try to win the Tour with Froome instead.

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

Being mentally broken is almost worse than being physically damaged.

Because your body will always say stop before your mind.

I disagree. Porte has made the strategic decision to focus on the tour and therefore, has decided to not put in as much effort in this TT as he knew his chances of winning the Giro were shot once the 2 min penalty had been applied. No point expending all this energy trying to get on the podium when he can serve Froome at the Tour and possibly save some further energy for the Vuelta.

naaa, Vuelta too?
don't think so, Sky will not send him in Spain.

 

[pastronef]

His knee couldn't have been much of a worry if he started the TT in the knowledge that he needed to push to the limit for 59km. But if it was that bad, shame on his Team for allowing him to start. Certainly the 'dicky knee' didn't help him in the TT, and the 2 minute business would have been on his mind too, but a lot of what he lost yesterday was probably due to the brain.

Sky bear part of the problem that he has of course - their PR machine put him up on a pedestal when he joined them in 2012, and more so after his Super-Domestique role for Wiggins in the TdF that year. The head has enlarged as a result. If he keeps believing the PR hype he will end up like Andy Schleck.

Yes, he is usually a good TT rider, and week long stage races have been good for him. Not the 3 week variety though. Perhaps he should go back to Tinkoff and ride GT's for Alberto - he might even be rewarded with a stage as a result.

he'll gain hundreds of fans. I am not joking.
and that's so weird

 

[Velolover2]

"can serve Froome at the Tour and possibly save some further energy for the Vuelta."

Comments like that are nuts.

You can't just have a heavy early schedule, then Giro, then Tour, then Vuelta. It's not how it works. Give this man a chance to rest. He should only do the Tour and then call it a season. A great season no matter of the outcome of the Giro and Tour.