Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[IndianCyclist]

Career wise mismanaged but money wise he got his share at Sky

 

[KZD]

I look at Richie Porte, 30 professional wins, including lots of WT weeklong race wins. Key helper in Froome's early Tour wins. Obviously extremely talented and hard working for over a decade.

I look at you. Making posts like this.

You call Porte a loser....

Well you don't know anything about my life so...

Anyway regarding Porte, he is obviously very talented and that together with hardwork and the fact that not many GC riders care about those races explain those wins. However, I always get the impression that he underachieved and the mental part is to blame, that's why I said he has the mentality of a loser. Just to give a few examples.

In 2014 Froome crashed out of the Tour giving Porte a great opportunity to do a great GC result, polka dot jersey, stage wins and achieved none of these.

Last year after his crash in the Tour he did absolutely nothing in the Vuelta or Worlds. Just compare his post-Tour season with Nibali who also abandoned the Tour with a fracture and you can see the difference between a true champion and someone like Porte. Contador and Froome in 2014 are also two good examples.

This year he underachieves during the whole season including the Tour and instead of having a crack at the Vuelta, a race in which he never achieved a great result, he decides to do races in which he won't be a contender.

So although he isn't a loser in life, far from it, his mentality certainly hampered his chances of becoming a great champion.

 

[Blanco]

Well you don't know anything about my life so...

Anyway regarding Porte, he is obviously very talented and that together with hardwork and the fact that not many GC riders care about those races explain those wins. However, I always get the impression that he underachieved and the mental part is to blame, that's why I said he has the mentality of a loser. Just to give a few examples.

In 2014 Froome crashed out of the Tour giving Porte a great opportunity to do a great GC result, polka dot jersey, stage wins and achieved none of these.

Last year after his crash in the Tour he did absolutely nothing in the Vuelta or Worlds. Just compare his post-Tour season with Nibali who also abandoned the Tour with a fracture and you can see the difference between a true champion and someone like Porte. Contador and Froome in 2014 are also two good examples.

This year he underachieves during the whole season including the Tour and instead of having a crack at the Vuelta, a race in which he never achieved a great result, he decides to do races in which he won't be a contender.

So although he isn't a loser in life, far from it, his mentality certainly hampered his chances of becoming a great champion.

That's pure BS!!! At least 98% of the peloton would be delighted with the wins he has, and I even don't like Porte at all!

 

[HelloDolly]

Dont know how much Richie earned at Sky ...alot I presume but he got 3 million euros at BMC and 2 million at Trek for each 2 year contract...all for his 'potential'
Madness ..better riders paid alot less and delivered alot more
in a way Richie is laughing all the way to the bank

 

[yaco]

Porte has done well from his last two contracts - The 2016 TDF was the one that go away - And it wasn't the mechanical in the first week that was the blow but it was the crash on Mount Ventoux when Porte, Froome and Mollema were away - That stage finishes as it should and that's a podium for Porte.

 

[roundabout]

What do you mean ? Porte had to pull out of two stage races in the spring due to illness which was why he wasn't really optimistic about his form going into the Tour. That was why he rode the Tour of California.

I mean that compared to 2014 his issues this year were not major.

 

[Nirvana]

Porte has done well from his last two contracts - The 2016 TDF was the one that go away - And it wasn't the mechanical in the first week that was the blow but it was the crash on Mount Ventoux when Porte, Froome and Mollema were away - That stage finishes as it should and that's a podium for Porte.

Without the time loss caused by the mechanical in stage 2 he would have finished 2nd.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Porte had a small window and back luck, coupled with (let's be honest) a lack of confidence/lack of bike handling skills cost him anything truly memorable. A shame, as he seems like a decent guy.

 

[movingtarget]

Well you don't know anything about my life so...

Anyway regarding Porte, he is obviously very talented and that together with hardwork and the fact that not many GC riders care about those races explain those wins. However, I always get the impression that he underachieved and the mental part is to blame, that's why I said he has the mentality of a loser. Just to give a few examples.

In 2014 Froome crashed out of the Tour giving Porte a great opportunity to do a great GC result, polka dot jersey, stage wins and achieved none of these.

Last year after his crash in the Tour he did absolutely nothing in the Vuelta or Worlds. Just compare his post-Tour season with Nibali who also abandoned the Tour with a fracture and you can see the difference between a true champion and someone like Porte. Contador and Froome in 2014 are also two good examples.

This year he underachieves during the whole season including the Tour and instead of having a crack at the Vuelta, a race in which he never achieved a great result, he decides to do races in which he won't be a contender.

So although he isn't a loser in life, far from it, his mentality certainly hampered his chances of becoming a great champion.

2014 hardly counts as he picked up a lung infection during the race and dropped down the GC. After the race it was reported he had developed pneumonia..........and this was part of the problem for Porte in grand tours, what he did in one week stage races he couldn't replicate in longer ones. If it wasn't crashes or poor positioning in the peloton it was illness. So far I'd put Pinot in the same category albeit with better results in grand tours but Pinot has only finished 50 % of the 12 GT's he has started. Cadel Evans finished every grand tour he started so along with talent; bike handling, tactics and recovery are just as important.

 

[movingtarget]

Porte has done well from his last two contracts - The 2016 TDF was the one that go away - And it wasn't the mechanical in the first week that was the blow but it was the crash on Mount Ventoux when Porte, Froome and Mollema were away - That stage finishes as it should and that's a podium for Porte.

Agree. That was his chance for the podium right there. The Ventoux stage issues were out of his control and then the badly timed puncture but it sums up his grand tour history unfortunately. The years have simply got away from Porte. Too bad he wasn't a bit younger as this year his race was fairly uneventful although his one fall could have led to concussion and would would have meant he was DNF again ! Shame he missed those races in the spring as his climbing form in the Tour wasn't quite there.

 

[barmaher]

Richie Porte is 53rd in the "all time" CQ Ranking. CQ rankings only go back to 1999, so the list is effectively a good indication of the relative strengths of riders in the last 20 years. Not many riders above him in the list spent as long as he did as a domestique.

He has been paid a lot in the last couple of years, but I really can't understand why he prompts such negativity.

 

[movingtarget]

Richie Porte is 53rd in the "all time" CQ Ranking. CQ rankings only go back to 1999, so the list is effectively a good indication of the relative strengths of riders in the last 20 years. Not many riders above him in the list spent as long as he did as a domestique.

He has been paid a lot in the last couple of years, but I really can't understand why he prompts such negativity.

I thought it was obvious. He promised more than he delivered at least in grand tours. No one disputes he was well paid.

 

[IndianCyclist]

He has only 2 goals- Winning on the Willunga Hill and the TDF and both goals are mutually exclusive. He has never tried the Giro Vuelta combo at all to maximise his chances considring that they are raced at normal levels compared to TDF

 

[perico]

Without the time loss caused by the mechanical in stage 2 he would have finished 2nd.

Would’ve could’ve should’ve... like saying if LeMond hadn’t used tribars than Fignon would’ve finished first, or if Delgado hadn’t shown up late for the prologue, or if Contador and Froome hadn’t crashed out in 20244. It could go on and on...

 

[Nirvana]

Would’ve could’ve should’ve... like saying if LeMond hadn’t used tribars than Fignon would’ve finished first, or if Delgado hadn’t shown up late for the prologue, or if Contador and Froome hadn’t crashed out in 20244. It could go on and on...

Well, actually every one of the event you cited was over discussed thousands of times...

 

[perico]

Well, actually every one of the event you cited was over discussed thousands of times...

That was partly my point. It's irrelevant. There are lots of variables that ensure a win or podium.

 

[Nirvana]

That was partly my point. It's irrelevant. There are lots of variables that ensure a win or podium.

How can be irrelevant? Every event that happens in a race is relevant for the outcome and since we are in a forum it's normal to discuss about everything and the "what ifs" are probably the ones most discussed.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Without the time loss from the flat it isn't a guarantee he would have podiumed. You change one thing after the fact and it affects the whole race outcome.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

Richie Porte is 53rd in the "all time" CQ Ranking. CQ rankings only go back to 1999, so the list is effectively a good indication of the relative strengths of riders in the last 20 years. Not many riders above him in the list spent as long as he did as a domestique.

He has been paid a lot in the last couple of years, but I really can't understand why he prompts such negativity.

He helped Froome trounce Contador thats what got him on the list of forums most hated.

 

[movingtarget]

He helped Froome trounce Contador thats what got him on the list of forums most hated.

For some fans I have no doubt that is true. but most of us like to think we are much more objective than we are..............

 

[F_Cance]

Now confirmed for the Deutschland Tour. Will probably be completely invisible.

 

[HelloDolly]

Now confirmed for the Deutschland Tour. Will probably be completely invisible.

Why doesn't he do Tour of Britain ??
One day races are not his forte tbh


I dont know why he didn't go to the Vuelta ...He was training with Nicolas Roche & Steven Kruis___ for the weeks leading up to the Vuelta I thought hed be there ...If they, who both rode the Tour can go then why couldn't Richie ??

 

[del1962]

Why doesn't he do Tour of Britain ??
One day races are not his forte tbh


I dont know why he didn't go to the Vuelta ...He was training with Nicolas Roche & Steven Kruis___ for the weeks leading up to the Vuelta I thought hed be there ...If they, who both rode the Tour can go then why couldn't Richie ??

Trek aren't on startlist for TOB

 

[cantpedal]

Without the time loss from the flat it isn't a guarantee he would have podiumed. You change one thing after the fact and it affects the whole race outcome.

This is the thing the what iffers never consider. Tactics changed as soon as the time loss occurred.

 

[Escarabajo]

Without the time loss from the flat it isn't a guarantee he would have podiumed. You change one thing after the fact and it affects the whole race outcome.

This.

People need to watch Back to the Future!