Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[gregrowlerson]

Richie's apparent lack of form during last year's Tour was concerning, though perhaps this was more based on lack of incentive once bad luck/positioning (and Pogacar) had taken he (and his teammates) out of contention. He did of course have good form in the early season, culminating in that Dauphne victory. If he takes that sort of form to the Giro then who knows? Weak field, and often an unpredictable race. Going there as the number 2, maybe he can Carapaz Carapaz

He also is aiming at T-A, as this is the rare one week race not on his palmares.

 

[RedheadDane]

Richie's apparent lack of form during last year's Tour was concerning, though perhaps this was more based on lack of incentive once bad luck/positioning (and Pogacar) had taken he (and his teammates) out of contention. He did of course have good form in the early season, culminating in that Dauphne victory. If he takes that sort of form to the Giro then who knows? Weak field, and often an unpredictable race. Going there as the number 2, maybe he can Carapaz Carapaz

He also is aiming at T-A, as this is the rare one week race not on his palmares.

 

[gregrowlerson]

You're right, I forgot it's still 2021!

 

[yaco]

Looking at Strava, Porte is stringing together some impressive base building rides in Tasmania right now. Christmas Eve was 233km over 3,000 metres of climbing averaging 34km/h. Yesterday another 133km with >2.000metres of climbing at 35km/h.

Not sure if he does these solo or with others but I recall he was doing similar this time last year. If he stays healthy and upright in early season races he should be in good shape to start the Giro for his final season.

At the time last year he was in hotel quarantine in Perth - He got out on the 22/23 Dec. So he should have a better prep for 2022.

 

[joe_papp]

I thought he retired?

 

[Cookster15]

I thought he retired?

End of this season. One more riding as a domestique.

 

[RedheadDane]

You're right, I forgot it's still 2021!

At least you admit to your mistake. There are people around here, who think it's perfectly reasonable to start referring to the current year as "last year" some point in mid-November.

 

[tobydawq]

I have two things to say here. First, it is very annoying that you have to do this all the time. Second, it is very strange how so many people mess this up. I mean, why? It's not exactly a secret when we pass into a new year.

 

[RedheadDane]

I have two things to say here. First, it is very annoying that you have to do this all the time. Second, it is very strange how so many people mess this up. I mean, why? It's not exactly a secret when we pass into a new year.

Exactly. And it's not like CX, where a season runs across the New Year.

 

[tobydawq]

Exactly. And it's not like CX, where a season runs across the New Year.

But that doesn't negate point 1.

 

[RedheadDane]

But that doesn't negate point 1.

How else are people gonna be reminded that NYE - at least by Western counting - is in fact still on December 31st?

 

[Bolder]

I have two things to say here. First, it is very annoying that you have to do this all the time. Second, it is very strange how so many people mess this up. I mean, why? It's not exactly a secret when we pass into a new year.

Not strange at all. What people mean is "last season."

Plus I basically spend every January correcting 20XX to 20XX +1 on all my correspondence. Jan. 1 always sneaks up on me.

I'm not quite sure what happened to Richie at the Tour last year, but he was basically invisible. I seem to recall he may have gotten caught up in a crash. Or maybe wasn't quite sure of his role after the chaos of the first week. But certainly he had the form going in, and maybe could have won a stage if he'd been allowed to go for that.

If he has Tour 2020 form then certainly he'd be a Top 5 possibility in the Giro...I've said a number of times that he's good enough that he can Top 10 any GT just by following wheels and doing his usual good TTs...and of course staying upright...

 

[tobydawq]

How else are people gonna be reminded that NYE - at least by Western counting - is in fact still on December 31st?

I think they know...

 

[RedheadDane]

Not strange at all. What people mean is "last season."

But is "last season" equal to "the latest season"?

Sure, the (road) season ends de facto at some point in mid-November (though this year it got pushed into December, but I think both Vuelta al Ecuador and Tour of Thailand (both) were postponed), but only because the racing stops, it's not like with CX, where a race that took place in January, and a race that took place in November, took place in two different seasons.
Compare to riders retiring; while there might be some riders who set a specific date for their retirement, but most just have 31/12 as their retirement date, even though you could argue that they are de fact retired from the day they finish their last race.
Take Richie himself; he's going to retire by the end of next year/season, but will his retirement start on 31/12 2022, or on whatever date he's done his last race?
(And then he's probably officially declare that his retirement will be after the World Championships...)

Plus I basically spend every January correcting 20XX to 20XX +1 on all my correspondence. Jan. 1 always sneaks up on me.

And I thought I lead a boring life.

 

[sir fly]

How else are people gonna be reminded that NYE - at least by Western counting - is in fact still on December 31st?

Eve of a new dawn

 

[gregrowlerson]

How else are people gonna be reminded that NYE - at least by Western counting - is in fact still on December 31st?

I thought NYE was when the Tour route was revealed?

That's when I started making all my resolutions for the 2023 route.

 

[Cookster15]

Richie's apparent lack of form during last year's Tour was concerning, though perhaps this was more based on lack of incentive once bad luck/positioning (and Pogacar) had taken he (and his teammates) out of contention. He did of course have good form in the early season, culminating in that Dauphne victory. If he takes that sort of form to the Giro then who knows? Weak field, and often an unpredictable race. Going there as the number 2, maybe he can Carapaz Carapaz

He also is aiming at T-A, as this is the rare one week race not on his palmares.

I see T/A is early March, that course should suit him if he is in good condition. Would be good to see him snag a stage or even high GC. Not sure who else at Ineos is riding T/A?

+Also good to see fellow forumites concerned about the big issues

 

[gregrowlerson]

Encouraging form from Richie in Italy. Could be a serious podium chance in a weak Giro.

Good to see Jai Hindley climbing pretty well also.

 

[Parker]

I think Richie needs to get more respect.

He's won five of the seven big one week races. 2nd at the Basque tour and 4th at this T-A. And with Froome possibly the best climbing domestique of the 2010s.

He'll be a big loss to cycling outside Wilunga

 

[tobydawq]

I think Richie needs to get more respect.

He's won five of the seven big one week races. 2nd at the Basque tour and 4th at this T-A. And with Froome possibly the best climbing domestique of the 2010s.

He'll be a big loss to cycling outside Wilunga

He could have been the first rider in history to get a podium in all seven of those races.

 

[gregrowlerson]

He could have been the first rider in history to get a podium in all seven of those races.

I suppose some top riders never took much interest in Romandie. Or Catalunya.

They are 2 of the 7, right?

 

[Cookster15]

Great ride by Richie today at T-A. Just happy to see him at the pointy end on such a tough mountain stage and he was way more competitive than TGH. I think he did lose time on the descent though?

But I suspect what we are seeing is the result of the work he did back in Tasmania. He's been following a similar formula to prep himself for years now. Still working for him in his final season.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Was good to see him up there yesterday, encouragement for the rest of the season,

 

[tobydawq]

I suppose some top riders never took much interest in Romandie. Or Catalunya.

They are 2 of the 7, right?

Yes.

And I agree that Catalunya, even if it was old, was probably not that prolific for a long time of its history. And there was a different Catalan stage race that was more prestigious (the Setmana Catalana).

 

[yaco]

It's a good performance by Porte, especially as he performs better in warm conditions.