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Sky back Richie Porte after Chris Froome's Tour de France exit

Tasmanian to spearhead challenge after defending champion crashes out

Richie Porte has the full confidence of Team Sky as its aim of winning a third consecutive Tour de France falls on the Tasmanian’s shoulders following the exit of Chris Froome today after the defending champion, carrying injuries from a fall yesterday, crashed twice on today’s Stage 5.

Froome abandoned ahead of the seven sectors of cobbles used in the Paris-Roubaix one-day Classic, but it’s perhaps telling that the two specialists in such races in Sky’s Tour de France team – Geraint Thomas and Berie Eisel – were not looking after him, but were assigned to Porte instead.

Following the stage, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford told the Team Sky website: "This is incredibly sad for Chris and for the team who have supported him so well. We really believed in Chris and that he would win this race again. His bravery was incredible but the crashes just took their toll and he had no choice but to abandon.”

Prior to the Tour beginning, amid the controversy of 2012 Tour winner Sir Bradley Wiggins being left out of the squad, Froome had insisted that Porte represented an ideal Plan B should mishap befall him.

Brailsford said: "When you have a setback you need to be resilient and flexible. You recalibrate your goals and you go again. Our backup plan is Richie Porte who's a great rider who will now lead the team. He’s come into form at the right time and given the way he is climbing we’ve got an exciting two and a half weeks ahead of us.

"This is Richie’s opportunity now, he steps up and he has the full support of the team. One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and part of sport is adapting to changing circumstances."

Porte finished 20th today, 2 minutes 8 seconds behind stage winner Lars Boom of Belkin, and nearly 2 minutes behind race leader, Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali. However, he took more than 30 seconds out of Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador, and currently lies eighth overall.

“I’m glad to have got that stage done – the racing was on all day and it was such a stressful stage,” said Porte. “Given his fall yesterday, it was always going to be hard for Froomey to hang in there, so the decision was made on the bus that I’d have G and Bernie to ride for me, and they did an incredible job on the wet and slippery roads.

“It was carnage before we even reached the cobbles, and I went down after the second sector myself, but fortunately I only had a few minor grazes.”

He added: “It’s a massive loss losing Chris. But he’ll back hungrier than ever next year. Now I have an opportunity to go for as high a GC position as I can. It’s a relief, personally, to have come through stages two and five OK, and I’m looking forward to heading into the mountains now.”

Thomas said: “It’s a mega loss losing Froomey, but that’s bike racing and we have to accept it. It’s kind of like Brad [Wiggins] in 2011 when he crashed out with a broken collarbone.

“You have got to take the positives from it. Back then we saw it as our chance to go for stages and Richie has got a great chance to ride for himself and I’ve got every confidence that he can do that.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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Jimmy Ray Will | 9 years ago
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I'd love to see Porte do a great ride. He has had such a miserable season to date.

I echo the previous comment... it looks as though Sky new it was over with Froome before the start of the stage.

I thought Carlton Kirby was just being dramatic on Tuesday after Froomes seemingly innocuous fall, but putting 2 and 2 together to make whatever number I fancy, I'd be willing to bet a few quid that wrists broken.

Does anyone remember Vandenbrook riding to a top ten in the world champs in 99 with two broken wrists? You can only imagine what potions he was on that day to endure that!

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peterben | 9 years ago
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Can't help but think he may lack support in the mountains as he was the support.

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FlatBattery | 9 years ago
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I'm glad Richie is getting the chance at the TdF now, although the circumstances are far from ideal. Chris Froome out of the tour is a huge loss, but hopefully Richie Porte can do the job instead.

Good luck Richie and get up and racing again soon Chris

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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Froomey ……………….  21

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andyp | 9 years ago
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Great news. Porte deserves his chance.
Love the G quote from yesterday 'Richie, get on my wheel, let's just smash it and see what happens.'

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nicholassmith replied to andyp | 9 years ago
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andyp wrote:

Love the G quote from yesterday 'Richie, get on my wheel, let's just smash it and see what happens.'

Best racing tactic in the world, smash it and see what happens.

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Shades replied to nicholassmith | 9 years ago
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nicholassmith wrote:
andyp wrote:

Love the G quote from yesterday 'Richie, get on my wheel, let's just smash it and see what happens.'

Best racing tactic in the world, smash it and see what happens.

Really enjoying interviews with G; that 'yeah, whatever, get on with it' attitude.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Wow, so Sky had pretty much accepted at the start that froome probably wasn't going to finish.

G did an awesome job on the cobbles.

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