Richie Porte

[fox1981]

Good on Riis for slapping him back down to earth. Personally, I don't know why he's considering a move. Hes young, only has a year to go on this contract and will get to ride with/for Alberto Contador.
What more could a future GC aspirant want than that. He should remember he is one bad season away from going back to nobody.

 

[Moondance]

Hmmm... I think its a little hypocritical on the part of Riis. He basically forces The Canc out of a deal with a year on it. But when Porte looks to see whether he can do the same, Riis 'slaps him down.' Why is Porte's contact holy, when The Canc's isn't?

 

[Jamsque]

Because he can't afford to pay Spartacus now that he has Contador, but Porte is cheap cheap cheap.

 

[dsut4392]

Hmmm... I think its a little hypocritical on the part of Riis. He basically forces The Canc out of a deal with a year on it. But when Porte looks to see whether he can do the same, Riis 'slaps him down.' Why is Porte's contact holy, when The Canc's isn't?

Riis could have forced Cancellara to stay and continued to pay his no-doubt huge salary, for likely sub-par (for Canc) performances. And on another level, Cancellara has paid his dues and rewarded CSC/Saxo with many results over the years. He could sit on his laurels for a year, and he would still be a multi Worlds TT champ, P-R winner, Tour TT and road stage winner etc...

Porte on the other hand came virtually out of nowhere this year and was given team-leader status in the Giro on the back of a good TT and the white jersey result it got him. All credit to Porte for some good performances, but I really think he needs to consolidate, and repay the faith Saxo showed in him which helped him achieve those performances.

As mentioned by the OP, Porte is only one bad season away from being a nobody again. He certainly doesn't have the palmares yet to justify behaving like a primadonna.

In Porte's defence, he's probably afraid (and rightly so) of being used as a super-domestique for AC, and not having chances for himself. But Riis isn't Bruyneel, and seems to be able to give riders other than his TDF star the support they need as B-team leaders in events they target. And AC is also known for favouring his trusted lieutenants to give him support in GTs over those who might fancy themselves as chances to achieve something for themselves.

 

[Speedneedle]

Agreed. There's a reason that contracts are made. Porte was a young unknown rider when he got to Saxo. I don't remember a number of teams queuing up to sign him last year, so he needs to show a little respect and honour the contract.

 

[SimonC]

Being from the UK I would love to see Porte sign for Team Sky (if this is where he ends up). What I'm more concerned about is that pro cycling is going down the route of football where contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on.
Porte should honour the remainder of his contract and then chose what team he wants to ride for in 2012.

 

[The Hitch]

Good on Riis for slapping him back down to earth. Personally, I don't know why he's considering a move. Hes young, only has a year to go on this contract and will get to ride with/for Alberto Contador.
What more could a future GC aspirant want than that. He should remember he is one bad season away from going back to nobody.

Porte did well (apparently, i didnt see it) at San sebastian, so he may end up as a good classics rider.
But GTs? Please. The same logic whic says that Arroyo wont become a gt winner just because he came 2nd in that Giro, (thanks to the 13 minute bonus) says that 25 year old Porte, wont come close to being a gt contender despite his 7th. He lost the pink jersey (not to a bonafied gc contender but to a fellow domestique) on the first mountain he saw. Couldnt even hold on to it till the Zoncolan stage.

Well done on getting into the break but that wont happen to him in every gt he enters. And even if bizzarely, he managed to get into another laquila break in some gt in the future, i think the real gc contenders will always be able to take enough out of him in the mountains.

 

[python]

riis had to stop the exodus from the team and unfortunately for porte he'll be the plug material.

agree with the dsut4392 analysis. big difference between canc and porte.
canc would not be allowed out if riis did not recruit berto and the the financial gain he acquired as the result.

 

[brianf7]

Thet dont want a rider on a team who dosnt want to be there You can pay all you can afford to pay him but if he isnt happy he wont preform and no amount of push and shove will make him.

There has been a big exodus and we have to read into why the riders are not happy why????

a unhappy Donky wont go no matter how hard you hit it or how many carrots you give it.

 

[The Hitch]

Thet dont want a rider on a team who dosnt want to be there You can pay all you can afford to pay him but if he isnt happy he wont preform and no amount of push and shove will make him.

There has been a big exodus and we have to read into why the riders are not happy why????

a unhappy Donky wont go no matter how hard you hit it or how many carrots you give it.

I dont know. Contador wasnt to keen on staying with Astana for 2010. But once it happened, he just put his head down and got the results.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Good on Riis for slapping him back down to earth. Personally, I don't know why he's considering a move. Hes young, only has a year to go on this contract and will get to ride with/for Alberto Contador.
What more could a future GC aspirant want than that. He should remember he is one bad season away from going back to nobody.

I still think that Riis keeping Porte is showing that Riis can see that the wheels are falling off for him. At one point the sponsorship was not looking good for him. Yes he has lost Contador but for what price. Lots of riders have left him and Porte has shown interest in other teams.

Porte on the other hand came virtually out of nowhere this year and was given team-leader status in the Giro on the back of a good TT and the white jersey result it got him. All credit to Porte for some good performances, but I really think he needs to consolidate, and repay the faith Saxo showed in him which helped him achieve those performances.

As mentioned by the OP, Porte is only one bad season away from being a nobody again. He certainly doesn't have the palmares yet to justify behaving like a primadonna.

.

Wrong. All porte said that he was considering his offers

"I've got a lot of interest after the year I've had. But it's still all to be decided," was all Porte would say to Cyclingnews about his future.

With the offers that Fly V and Sky have offered him, he would be crazy to totally dismiss them. That is not being a primmadonna. Even if he has a poor season that will not make him a "nobody". You don't get results like he did in his first year for being a nobody.

 

[PCutter]

But GTs? Please. The same logic whic says that Arroyo wont become a gt winner just because he came 2nd in that Giro, (thanks to the 13 minute bonus) says that 25 year old Porte, wont come close to being a gt contender despite his 7th. He lost the pink jersey (not to a bonafied gc contender but to a fellow domestique) on the first mountain he saw. Couldnt even hold on to it till the Zoncolan stage.

I think you're being a little hard on this guy. If it was just bloggers calling him a future star maybe, but he's being chased by teams with some decent judges of talent. He's also in his first year as a pro and the Giro was his first GT, so a top 10 on debut - even with a 13 minute break (not forgetting there were some very big names in that break, Sastre, Wiggins et al) - isn't too bad an effort.

There's very few riders who blow the doors off all the competition the first time they ride a 21 day race. And look at photo's of this guy - he's still carrying baby fat! His second pro season with more race days, should see him drop that fat to become a leaner rider, which should help him in the high mountains. There's a reason why teams are chasing a neo pro.

I do believe however he should honour his contract.

 

[fox1981]

In Porte's defence, he's probably afraid (and rightly so) of being used as a super-domestique for AC

you say it like its a bad thing. how could a young kid hoping to be a future GC contender pass up the chance to ride in support of Contador? And only having a year to go, he doesnt have to fear being stuck in that role forever.

 

[Christian]

He should remember he is one bad season away from going back to nobody.

Agreed! He had a really good season for a neo-pro, but luck could just as well change next year. I feel like he is a bit over-hyped in general and that must have gone to his head.

In my opinion he got really lucky in the Giro to be in the 30-minute break, and that Saxo had no real leader, therefore he had a whole team working their a*s off to help him keep his 7th place.

 

[python]

Thet dont want a rider on a team who dosnt want to be there You can pay all you can afford to pay him but if he isnt happy he wont preform and no amount of push and shove will make him.

There has been a big exodus and we have to read into why the riders are not happy why????

a unhappy Donky wont go no matter how hard you hit it or how many carrots you give it.

you are confusing a tug animal with a human who performs for his own glory. if porte goes into a 'protest mode' he will only hurt his own palmeras and reputation. a wiser choice would be to work with riis who proved he is fair to him.

 

[Black-Balled]

Thet dont want a rider on a team who dosnt want to be there You can pay all you can afford to pay him but if he isnt happy he wont preform and no amount of push and shove will make him.

There has been a big exodus and we have to read into why the riders are not happy why????

a unhappy Donky wont go no matter how hard you hit it or how many carrots you give it.

That is why Porte better shape up and honor the contract he signed. His donkey (pronounced ah-sss) is gonna be sad if he keeps f-ing w/ Bjarne!

Riis is about to get uber-cranky...Porte will be benched if he doesn't get with the program and do as the Boss says. I don't wanna see Richie cry after he fails to make the start of il Giro in 2011, but he will have no other camp to blame.

 

[Black-Balled]

I still think ...
Wrong. All porte said that he was considering his offers...

After the Andy Schleck DQ from TdEsp, I have more respect for Riis.

I thought he dealt with is in a fine manner...didn't get into detail, just handled the business and moved on.

Now he says he is getting pressure from Porte's representatives...I believe him.

He is in the power position vs. Richie too and Richie is gonna be one sad pup if he/ his keep f-in up.

 

[53 x 11]

Porte did well (apparently, i didnt see it) at San sebastian, so he may end up as a good classics rider.
But GTs? Please. The same logic whic says that Arroyo wont become a gt winner just because he came 2nd in that Giro, (thanks to the 13 minute bonus) says that 25 year old Porte, wont come close to being a gt contender despite his 7th. He lost the pink jersey (not to a bonafied gc contender but to a fellow domestique) on the first mountain he saw. Couldnt even hold on to it till the Zoncolan stage.

Well done on getting into the break but that wont happen to him in every gt he enters. And even if bizzarely, he managed to get into another laquila break in some gt in the future, i think the real gc contenders will always be able to take enough out of him in the mountains.

Porte has good recovery and is committed at a whole other level. Don't be writing him off as a multi stage rider just yet. Especially as my experience with him is as a multi stage climbing specialist.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he is not a climbinf specialisr, he is an itt specialist and he has always been in his time as a cyclist. his recovery indeed is very good but in the mountains this giro despite huge motivation and pink he lost over 30 minuten which would've made him top 30 at best. although I will say he has a lot of progression still to make

 

[theyoungest]

he is not a climbinf specialisr, he is an itt specialist and he has always been in his time as a cyclist. his recovery indeed is very good but in the mountains this giro despite huge motivation and pink he lost over 30 minuten which would've made him top 30 at best. although I will say he has a lot of progression still to make

He certainly isn't a climbing specialist, but his performance in San Sebastian and Romandie, or in shit small races like the Eneco Tour or the Tour of Britain, shows that his climbing is more than adequate, if not really good. I think he's the kind of rider who could do surprisingly well on the Tour de France type of climb. I think he's more of a climber than, say, Bradley Wiggins.

 

[53 x 11]

he is not a climbinf specialisr, he is an itt specialist and he has always been in his time as a cyclist. his recovery indeed is very good but in the mountains this giro despite huge motivation and pink he lost over 30 minuten which would've made him top 30 at best. although I will say he has a lot of progression still to make

First GT ever though and in his first season.

If your able have a loot at some of the races he won while riding in Australia and you will see that he is an excellent climber. Not denying his tt abilities though. Tri background takes care of that.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

australia racing in terms of climbing is like usa. not to be taken too serious. the level is very low relatively to europe.

porte has a lot of progression in him for sure, and yes his first year but he's also 25 as a first year pro.

 

[53 x 11]

australia racing in terms of climbing is like usa. not to be taken too serious. the level is very low relatively to europe.

porte has a lot of progression in him for sure, and yes his first year but he's also 25 as a first year pro.

yeah and in his first year in europe he placed 7th in the Giro and beat Canc in a ITT. He has only been riding road for 3-4 years now and is making fantastic progress, I wouldn't discount anything at this point.

Also that Australian climbing has been a pretty good revealer of talent over the years, much more so than the US circuit.

 

[theyoungest]

yeah and in his first year in europe he placed 7th in the Giro and beat Canc in a ITT. He has only been riding road for 3-4 years now and is making fantastic progress, I wouldn't discount anything at this point.

Also that Australian climbing has been a pretty good revealer of talent over the years, much more so than the US circuit.

Well, I gotta say, I do like Porte but he's gotten an unreasonable amount of hype for that 7th placing. Steven Kruijswijk (1st year pro, 22 years old) rode his first GT as well, in fact he only heard a few days before that he would take the start, and did better than Porte on almost every climb. I don't hear anyone talking him up as the next great GC hope, though.

 

[53 x 11]

Well, I gotta say, I do like Porte but he's gotten an unreasonable amount of hype for that 7th placing. Steven Kruijswijk (1st year pro, 22 years old) rode his first GT as well, in fact he only heard a few days before that he would take the start, and did better than Porte on almost every climb. I don't hear anyone talking him up as the next great GC hope, though.

My point is not to talk him up but to warn people not to dismiss the guy as just another over hyped young rider. Richie is fiercely determined, to the point of weirdness, a bit of a ''champions persona' is you ask me.