Richie Porte quits Giro d'Italia
Team Sky's leader leaves the Giro d'Italia after a race marred by bad luck, crashes and an already infamous time penalty

The Giro d'Italia will start again on Tuesday without Sky's Richie Porte.
Porte crashed on Friday on the wet roads of Jesolo and lost time in both the time trial and yesterday's first big summit finish to Madonna di Campiglio. Today he pulled the plug on a frustrating two weeks.
The teams woke up this morning for a rest day, but Porte is expected to travel home to his base in Monaco.
"I fell heavily on my knee and hip which caused me a lot of pain on Saturday's time trail and yesterday's stage. I just wanted to keep trying and give it everything, but now the medical team have advised me not to continue," explained Porte.
"I'm gutted it's ended this way and that I can't stay and support Leo [König], Elia [Viviani] and the team in the last week. They've been outstanding every step of the way and to not be able to repay that is tough."
Sky's staff packed Porte's bikes and his items from the motorhome this morning at the sunny ski resort, where yesterday the 15th stage finished at 1715 metres.
Porte lost more than 27 minutes at the end of yesterday's summit finish, but did not stop to explain what happened. It is likely that his crash on the roads near Venice on Friday was a factor.
Porte fell on his left side and hurt his hip and knee. He fumbled with his bike and restarted on an oversized bike from team-mate Vasil Kiryienka. He lost 2-08 minutes.
It added to the 4-06 loss in the time trial the day before in Valdobbiadene and the puncture incident in Forlì. Porte took a wheel from rival and friend Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEDGE) and finished the stage 47 seconds behind overall leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) — but the jury added another two minutes because being assisted by a rider from another team contravenes UCI rules.
The time losses knocked Porte out of the classification. While Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrated the stage win on the podium yesterday, officials began to calculate the overall standings. Porte sat 27th overall at 35-57 minutes behind Contador.
"I've had a lot of back luck this week with the puncture and the time penalty, but it was the crash on Friday that has taken its toll," Porte said.
"The plan for me now is to take some time off the bike, get the medical treatment that I need and reset my goals for the rest of the season and come back fighting. Hopefully I can get myself ready for the Tour team."
Porte has five weeks until the Tour de France begins on July 4 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. If recovered, he should be Chris Froome's right-hand man.
Czech Leopold König, who placed seventh in the Tour last year for NetApp, will now lead team Sky in the Giro. He sits fifth overall at 6-36.
Besides the classification, Sky will also race for stage wins. So far it has two, thanks to Viviani and Vasil Kiryienka.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
British bike company Planet X saved after sale to private equity firm
Winglong Garments Ltd, a company funded by equity firm Baaj Capital, now owns the Yorkshire-based bike company
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ergon SR Allroad Core Comp Men Review - a gravel saddle that smooths rough roads
An affordable, comfortable saddle offered in two different widths
By Tyler Boucher • Published
-
From drawing to Giro d'Italia in 2 months: How SunGod reinvented Geraint Thomas' iconic sunglasses
The glasses, GTs, have been seen on the Welshman's face throughout his impressive Giro d'Italia run
By Adam Becket • Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia after fracturing hip on stage 11
Ineos Grenadiers rider was sitting in third before falling heavily with 69km to go on Wednesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Blow to Ineos's Giro d'Italia as Filippo Ganna forced out with Covid-19
Time-triallist and super-domestique Filippo Ganna has had to leave his home Grand Tour due to a Covid-19 positive
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart ready for Giro d'Italia after sealing Tour of the Alps victory in Italy
British rider says he will savour his second-ever overall win, before turning his attention towards the fast approaching Italian Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Just stay calm and relaxed’: Tao Geoghegan Hart one day from second-ever overall victory
Barring major disaster, the Ineos Grenadiers rider will wrap up overall victory at the Tour of the Alps in Brunico on Friday
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘I’m not going there as a favourite’ - Tao Geoghegan Hart plays down Giro d’Italia chances despite success
The British rider is two days away from winning the Tour of the Alps, but said he would be just one of many 'pieces in the puzzle' at the Giro
By Tom Thewlis • Published