Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

He's really not riding?

Then (I haven't scrutinised the route sufficiently to really know this) Sagan could win because the Willunga will not be ridden as fast and aggressively as usually. Of course provided he takes the start again.

His coach has advised him for years not to ride the TDU - Richie is poor at accepting valid advice - he may be listening - Anyway a top 2 at the Vuelta is a minimum requirement.

Trek might be like BMC and like to pick up some early points. If Porte doesn't want to ride the nationals he should also dodge the TDU. I thought his timing was better this year simply because he missed some racing after the period in Australia. He said himself after the TDS win that he had a lot of improvement in him and the way he blowing after the TDS stages it seemed that way. I think it is always better to go into the Tour a little under done but it's a fine line. A later start to the season worked for Evans. Porte should try it.

 

[hazaran]

"The biggest goal is worlds now," Porte explains.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/richie-porte-the-biggest-goal-now-is-worlds/

The guy is just unbelievably stupid.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

"The biggest goal is worlds now," Porte explains.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/richie-porte-the-biggest-goal-now-is-worlds/

The guy is just unbelievably stupid.

An explosive final climb followed by a steep technical descent to finish? What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Lequack]

Plus winning Vuelta is much bigger palmares that the Worlds, even if Porte only sees the Tour as the only Grand Tour, probably something to do with how Sky is obsessed with winning it every year.

 

[tobydawq]

Really?

I disagree.

 

[Lequack]

Re:

Really?

I disagree.

A three week race vs one day race? Of course. Everyone remembers GT wins for years to come. Few people will know though that even Cadel was World Champion, and even Lance Armstrong in 93.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Really?

I disagree.

A three week race vs one day race? Of course. Everyone remembers GT wins for years to come. Few people will know though that even Cadel was World Champion, and even Lance Armstrong in 93.

I can certainly not tell you who won the Vuelta in the early 90's when Armstrong won the worlds, and the added year-long reminder of the world's win with the rainbow jersey adds extra prestige, I should say.

The Giro may be slightly bigger than the Worlds but the Vuelta not. In my opinion, of course.

 

[Leinster]

After the Tour’s yellow jersey, the rainbow jersey is probably the most recognizable award in world cycling. The Vuelta have even changed their leader’s colours 3 times since I became a cycling fan. And this year’s course may be the one and only chance a rider like Porte gets to ever really go for it at the Worlds.

That said, Porte is one of maybe 5 favorites for the Vuelta. And injuries to Landa, Bernal, Nibali etc mean that list is shorter and shorter almost every day. But there are at least 20-25 possible contenders for the Worlds, many of whom won’t be on the start line of the Vuelta, or who are just classic specialists who’ll be stage hunting if they do show up. So Porte may never have a better chance to win a GT.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

After the Tour’s yellow jersey, the rainbow jersey is probably the most recognizable award in world cycling. The Vuelta have even changed their leader’s colours 3 times since I became a cycling fan. And this year’s course may be the one and only chance a rider like Porte gets to ever really go for it at the Worlds.

That said, Porte is one of maybe 5 favorites for the Vuelta. And injuries to Landa, Bernal, Nibali etc mean that list is shorter and shorter almost every day. But there are at least 20-25 possible contenders for the Worlds, many of whom won’t be on the start line of the Vuelta, or who are just classic specialists who’ll be stage hunting if they do show up. So Porte may never have a better chance to win a GT.

His way of keeping the pressure off I think. That said, his prep for the Vuelta is not ideal. Eight and a bit stages of the Tour since the TDS and no other races before the Vuelta. He can only win the Worlds on a break as he doesn't have the kick of the classics riders but the course will never be better for him. It's a one shot race and not many riders will have a realistic shot on that course. I think he has to be included in the top 10.

The Vuelta will be a lottery with so many riders coming back from injury and illness and many of the others not showing good form earlier in the year or backing up after doing the Tour. Yates and Porte may never get a better opportunity to do well without Dumoulin and Froome being in the field.

 

[Leinster]

By its very nature as a 1-day race, the Worlds, even on such a tough course, is more of a lottery than the Vuelta. Especially with the wild card factor of national teams. One 5-6 man break break with the wrong combination of solid climbing domestiques from (insert 2 large European countries here), Colombian and (insert small European country here) gains 2 minutes on the 2nd last lap and they’ll never be seen again. The same break go up the road on stage 3 of the Vuelta and nobody gives a hoot because those guys are already 15 to 30 minutes down.

For that reason, as the variables in the Vuelta are more controllable, I would say Porte’s better probability of getting a big result would be the Vuelta. He should by all means hope for and work towards a good performance at Innsbruck, but it would be unwise, IMO, to do so at the expense of his gc chances in Spain.

 

[Scarponi]

Plus Richie is pretty decent at these one climb stages of the Veulta if he powers up like little Willunga Hill

 

[gregrowlerson]

I think that a valuing of the Vuelta vs. World's debate is based on whether you care more for stage racing or one day racing. From my perspective I much prefer stage racing, and would rate a Porte victory in the Vuelta over a World's gold medal (I'd even rate it over an Olympic road gold medal - though 99% would not - as I think a race like that has a lot of luck involved, whereas I value greatly consistency over three weeks). I think that he has a much better chance of winning the Vuelta than the World's also.

As has been mentioned, I think that his recent comments are just to take the pressure off himself. He cannot be 100% sure that he will have the form in the Vuelta post Tour crash, so if he bleeds multiple minutes in the first week, then at least he hasn't given anyone false hope.

I am sure that he hopes to podium the Vuelta though, and probably gives himself a 50% chance of doing so.

 

[Salvarani]

Maybe he just dont know how he will respond yet in Vuelta. Pretty dumb to say "Im going there to win, this is my best shot" and then not having the legs or form at all.

Like someone said above I think it is just to take some pressure off if it does not work out.

 

[yaco]

I wouldn't have Porte as the leader after the debacle of the Olympics in 2016 - An in-form Haig should be the leader - In saying that an in-form Porte should come top 2 in the Vuelta.

 

[movingtarget]

Haig and Porte will be the protected riders. The Australian team won't be bursting with climbing talent. Usually a good ride in the Vuelta gets backed up at the Worlds with the small window in between. This is the main reason many riders have used the Vuelta for prep over the years.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Really?

I disagree.

A three week race vs one day race? Of course. Everyone remembers GT wins for years to come. Few people will know though that even Cadel was World Champion, and even Lance Armstrong in 93.

I disagree with this. I rate Worlds below only the Tour and around Giro level. The rainbow stripes are the most visible symbol in cycling. I love the Vuelta but I'd probably have it around 5 or 6 if I were ranking races.

Obviously everyone has completely different opinions on this one as we've seen countless times on this forum every time this comes up.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Really?

I disagree.

A three week race vs one day race? Of course. Everyone remembers GT wins for years to come. Few people will know though that even Cadel was World Champion, and even Lance Armstrong in 93.

I disagree with this. I rate Worlds below only the Tour and around Giro level. The rainbow stripes are the most visible symbol in cycling. I love the Vuelta but I'd probably have it around 5 or 6 if I were ranking races.

Obviously everyone has completely different opinions on this one as we've seen countless times on this forum every time this comes up.

I put it on the same level as a Paris Roubaix win and after the Tour and Giro. The Vuelta is a good race but not quite as iconic as the other two grand tours. The Olympic Road Race would also be there or maybe one step below.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re:

Haig and Porte will be the protected riders. The Australian team won't be bursting with climbing talent. Usually a good ride in the Vuelta gets backed up at the Worlds with the small window in between. This is the main reason many riders have used the Vuelta for prep over the years.

MEN’S ROAD RACE Simon Clarke, Rohan Dennis, Jack Haig, Chris Hamilton, Damien Howson, Richie Porte, Robert Power & Rory Sutherland.

 

[dastott]

Can’t really see the logic when placing a one day race ahead of a 3 week GT that covers a variety of terrain but maybe that’s just me...

 

[yaco]

That's a good squad for Australia - Will add that Storer,Hamilton and Hindley should not be riding the under23's RR.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Plus winning Vuelta is much bigger palmares that the Worlds, even if Porte only sees the Tour as the only Grand Tour, probably something to do with how Sky is obsessed with winning it every year.

What? no

I still remember freakin Roman Vainsteins winning the worlds while for the life of me I cannot remember who won the Vuelta in 2008 for instance

 

[Tim Booth]

Re:

That's a good squad for Australia - Will add that Storer,Hamilton and Hindley should not be riding the under23's RR.

?
thought they had announced HAMILTON, HINDLEY, SCOTSON, STANNARD, STORER & WHELAN.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

That's a good squad for Australia - Will add that Storer,Hamilton and Hindley should not be riding the under23's RR.

?
thought they had announced HAMILTON, HINDLEY, SCOTSON, STANNARD, STORER & WHELAN.

Yes - The three mentioned are WT riders - They should not be allowed to ride in the under 23's.

 

[Singer01]

Re: Re:

Plus winning Vuelta is much bigger palmares that the Worlds, even if Porte only sees the Tour as the only Grand Tour, probably something to do with how Sky is obsessed with winning it every year.

What? no

I still remember freakin Roman Vainsteins winning the worlds while for the life of me I cannot remember who won the Vuelta in 2008 for instance

Oooh, some contador fans will never forgive you for that.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: Re:

That's a good squad for Australia - Will add that Storer,Hamilton and Hindley should not be riding the under23's RR.

?
thought they had announced HAMILTON, HINDLEY, SCOTSON, STANNARD, STORER & WHELAN.

Yes - The three mentioned are WT riders - They should not be allowed to ride in the under 23's.

21 January 2016
Articles 2.14.018, 9.2.013 and 9.2.020 of the UCI Regulations related to the Men Under 23 category have recently been amended to clearly redefine that the U23 category is open to all men riders from 19 to 22 years, no matter their team affiliation.
Therefore, riders aged 19-22 who belong to a UCI WorldTeams are now allowed to participate in both the U23 road race and time trial of the UCI Road World Championships
http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/amendments-regulations-related-the-uci-u23-category/