Richie Porte is aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory on Willunga Hill during the 2017 Tour Down Under (January 17-22).
Porte will head BMC Racing's attack on the opening WorldTour race of the 2017 season in Australia – and he has form in the event, having won the 'queen' climbing stage since 2014.
"I've won on Willunga Hill on three occasions, so why not go for the fourth?" said the 31-year-old from Tasmania.
"The atmosphere on Willunga Hill is as good as any race in Europe, so I'm excited to get back there and test my legs."
>>> Tour Down Under 2017: Stage by stage
Porte finished the 2016 TDU in second place overall behind Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott), after winning stage five on Willunga Hill. He is seeking to go one better in 2017.
It would be the ideal start for Porte, whose first season with BMC in 2016 after switching from Sky didn't quite go to plan after a mechanical issue during the Tour de France saw him lose time – though he rallied to fifth place overall behind former Sky team-mate Chris Froome. Porte's Willunga win was his only victory in 2016.
"I love racing in Adelaide and having already been on the podium twice, I'd like to start the year with a good result at the Santos Tour Down Under and hopefully go one better," said Porte.
>>> Tour Down Under 2017 start list
"I've had a particularly long off-season since Rio [Olympic Games] so I'm ready to get back to racing. I have a strong team by my side and as an Australian it's great to have all of the support from fans."
Porte will be supported in the TDU by a strong roster of BMC's riders, including 2015 TDU champion and fellow Australian Rohan Dennis.
Italian Damiano Caruso, Frenchman Amaël Moinard, Australian Miles Scotson, Swiss rider Danilo Wyss and Spaniard Francisco Ventoso complete BMC's line-up for the six-day race.
Porte will face competition from four-time winner Gerrans, Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) and world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
The 2017 Tour Down Under commences on Tuesday, January 17, and concludes on Sunday, January 22, in Adelaide, South Australia.
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
-
-
Meet The Joker, a brake-less, chain-less crit racing bike
New York City-based Priority Bicycles today launched a fixed-gear, 70T belt-drive criterium and track racing machine
-
Pirelli claims updated P Zero Race TLR tire is 24 per cent faster than before
The tire giant also claims that aramid fibres used improve puncture resistance. Wider tyres on the way
-
Jay Vine is more than a stage hunter and no Willunga works: Five things we learned from the Tour Down Under
The WorldTours are back, and some riders and teams hit the ground running, while others were absent
-
Phil Bauhaus outsprints Caleb Ewan to win stage one of Tour Down Under
The German recovered from an earlier crash to beat Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews in a bunch sprint
-
Alberto Bettiol wins Tour Down Under prologue, Brown claims women's race title
The Italian made the best of dry conditions before the weather turned and says the real race starts tomorrow
-
Tour Down Under 2023: Seven contenders to watch out for
Multiple big names from the men's and women's WorldTour will be beginning the new season in the coming days
-
How to watch the Tour Down Under 2023
Don't miss the first WorldTour race of the season in Australia
-
Tour Down Under 2023: Route, stages, and startlist guide
Taking a look at all the stages for both the men's and women's Australian race
-
Jai Hindley set for ‘fun and aggressive racing’ at the Tour Down Under
Last year’s Giro d’Italia champion plays down his chances of a potential Tour Down Under Victory as he looks ahead to coming months
-
Biniam Girmay shares photo of eye-catching new helmet design
Eritrean rider shares image of new boxing cork design on cafe stop during training ride
