Richie Porte has confirmed cycling’s worst-kept secret: he will leave Team Sky at the end of the year. The Australian is in the final year of his contract with the British team and talk has been rife the 30-year-old is looking to pursue his dreams of Grand Tour success elsewhere.
He finally laid his cards on the table following the Tour de France’s 28km team time trial from Vannes to Plumelec. “I think it’s the worst-kept secret in the world,” Porte told SBS after the ninth stage, won by BMC. “I’ve got to take my own opportunities.”
After four years at Sky, Porte is as one of the biggest names in this year’s transfer market and has been linked to BMC. Etixx-QuickStep have also reportedly shown interest and Orica-GreenEDGE are on the lookout for a general classification rider.
He is in Sky’s team for the Tour but as a key domestique for his good friend Chris Froome, who has tightened his grip on the yellow jersey heading into the second week.
Porte acknowledged he would have much more opportunity to lead a Grand Tour outfit elsewhere. “I’ve won Paris-Nice and Catalunya this year, and had my big opportunity in the Giro, which didn’t quite got to plan,” he said. “But I’m ready, I’m in the prime of my career now the next few years, so I need to go and lead a team.”
Porte has proven himself at Sky in the Tour de France as a domestique and played crucial roles when Bradley Wiggins won the 2012 Tour and Froome took the title the following year.
Two months ago, Porte led Sky at the Giro d’Italia after starting the season with outstanding form. But after a strong start to the Italian classic, Porte’s race fell apart following a controversial two-minute penalty for accepting a replacement wheel from compatriot and Orica-GreenEDGE rider Simon Clarke. Porte eventually abandoned the race because of injuries from a crash.
