TASMANIAN cyclist Richie Porte does not need telling that his Olympic debut arrives while he is in the form of his life and on courses ideally suited to his strengths.
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Less than two weeks after finishing fifth in the Tour de France, when only an untimely puncture denied him second place, Porte travelled to Rio de Janeiro as one of the genuine contenders for both Saturday’s 256.4-kilometre road race and Wednesday’s 54.5km time trial.
The gruelling 40km of climbing in the road race looms as an open invitation to a rider whose uphill skills have played a major part in victories at Paris-Nice (twice), Giro del Trentino, Volta a Catalunya, Volta ao Algarve and a hat-trick of stage wins up the Tour Down Under’s Willunga Hill.
“I wouldn’t say it’s tailor-made for me, but it certainly is nice to have a course that does suit me,” said the 31-year-old Launceston rider.
“The time trial is also very hilly. They are not decent for the sprinters. The more climbing the better as far as I’m concerned.”
Despite missing a chance to examine the course in May after falling ill during the Tour de Romandie, Porte has since checked it out.
“I arrived with plenty of time to get a look at the course plus I’ve seen videos and spoken to those that have been here so I’m not going blind.”
A veteran of 10 grand tours and one of only four Australians to finish in the Tour de France top 10, Porte is Australia’s team leader for the road race which finishes at Fort Copacabana.
He will be assisted by BMC teammate Rohan Dennis, of South Australia, Victorian Simon Clarke and fellow Tasmanian Scott Bowden who will also compete in the mountain biking on the final day of the Games.
Clarke is a well-qualified late replacement for the injured Simon Gerrans having helped Cadel Evans to a world title in 2009, claimed stage wins in all three grand tours and won a king of the mountains jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. Like Porte, he has also worn the leader’s pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia.
Provided I have a little bit of luck, I can challenge for a medal in either the time trial or the road race.
- Richie Porte
Predictably, the field is crammed full of talent including Alejandro Valverde (Spain), Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), Porte’s BMC teammate Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) and his good friend, Britain’s triple Tour de France champion Chris Froome.
“The guys who are up there in the Tour are probably the guys who are going to be animating the road race,” Porte said in France. “And I’m out-climbing most of those guys. It’s a climber’s course.
“So provided I have a little bit of luck, I can challenge for a medal in either the time trial or the road race.”
Twice a top-six finisher in time trial world championships, Porte will also contest the discipline in Rio (along with Dennis) having missed out on the opportunity in London four years ago. The course is two laps of a 29.8km circuit from the Estrada do Pontal.
Porte said the Olympics were “a massive honour”.