After weeks of speculation, Richie Porte’s move from Team Sky to BMC Racing was confirmed on Saturday morning as cycling’s transfer window officially opened.

The Tasmanian announced his decision to leave Sky during the Tour de France and BMC has long been mooted as his preferred landing spot.

And while Porte is keen defend his Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya titles next year, he believes teaming up with Tejay van Garderen at the Tour de France will provide BMC with a great opportunity to win the race.

“I was close to coming to the BMC Racing Team four years ago,” Porte said. “This time, it was a hard decision, but the right decision. Obviously, Cadel left his legacy with the team. When he was racing, it was almost like it was partially an Australian team.

“There were always so many Aussies at the races with BMC caps on. With them still having Rohan Dennis and Campbell Flakemore  – who is from Tasmania like me – the team still does have a fairly Australian flavour.”

He added: “I want to win races like Paris-Nice and Catalunya again and I think next year at the Tour de France, why not have Tejay van Garderen and me there? We get along well.

“It is exciting to be going to a team where I am going to have so many opportunities for myself to win races.”

Take a look inside the BMC mechanics truck