Richie Porte has abandoned Paris-Nice following a crash in his debut race for Ineos Grenadiers.
Porte was brought down in the final 35km of the 165km first stage in a crash that also held up Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana) and Connor Swift (Arkéa-Samsic). The Australian gingerly got back up and remounted before then getting off his bike again and going to the race medics.
Leaning over the bonnet of the medical car, Porte was grimacing in pain from his injuries, and with team-mate Rohan Dennis having left him behind to chase back to the peloton, things were not looking hopeful for the Tasmanian.
Porte did get back on his bike, however, slowly setting off to try and complete the final 30km of the stage, his GC hopes now shot.
With the TV cameras having left him behind, news filtered through that Porte had abandoned as the peloton entered the final 10km of the race.
Ineos Grenadiers will now focus on Giro d'Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart for the Paris-Nice GC.
"Beyond gutted for Richie Porte. He's sadly forced to abandon Paris-Nice in the closing stages of day one. We'll have an update later," Ineos Grenadiers said.
Speaking after the finish, Ben Swift explained that George Bennett had hit a discarded bidon, then veering into Porte's path.
"As we were getting ready to move up someone dropped a bottle," Ben Swift said. "George Bennett hit it, veered left into Richie and took his front wheel.
"I didn't know whether he'd get back up [to the peloton] or not because we were moving pretty quickly at that point...it was all pretty chaotic."
-
-
Ben Swift successfully defends British National Road Race title
The Ineos rider outlasted Fred Wright on the Michaelgate climb to the finish line
By Jonny Long •
-
Pfeiffer Georgi wins British National Road Championships
The DSM rider attacked up the Michaelgate climb to seal the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
'It’s been a nice run, but it’s time': Richie Porte says 2021 edition was his final Tour de France
The Australian leads his national team into the Olympic Games road race on Saturday
By Richard Windsor •
-
Richie Porte ‘would love to repay Geraint Thomas’ at Tour de France after taking Dauphiné victory
The Tasmanian secured the yellow jersey, a nice bonus, before the real maillot jaune his Ineos team are after at the Tour later this month
By Jonny Long •
-
'I'd love to finish it off,' says Richie Porte after taking Critérium du Dauphiné lead
Richie Porte was the strongest of the GC guys as he attacked on stage seven to take the race lead
By Jonny Long •
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce super-strong team for Critérium du Dauphiné 2021
The Tour de France build-up race is always a big objective for the British squad
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Richie Porte, Amanda Spratt and Rohan Dennis confirmed for Australian team at Tokyo Olympics
Porte and Amanda Spratt headline the squad for the tough Olympic road race scheduled for this summer
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Geraint Thomas leads super-strong Ineos Grenadiers team at Tour de Romandie 2021
Ineos Grenadiers have sent an exceptionally strong team to the Tour de Romandie 2021 as their riders build towards the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Five things we learned from Paris-Nice 2021
Talking points from a memorable edition of Paris-Nice
By Stephen Puddicombe •
-
Primož Roglič discolated his shoulder in first of two crashes on Paris-Nice stage eight
"It could have been worse," says the Slovenian, who is already looking ahead to the next race
By Jonny Long •
