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
Richie Porte says winning the Critérium du Dauphiné “feels like a Tour de France victory”, elated after holding on to yellow during a difficult final day in the mountains to close out the stage race.
“Paris-Nice has always been a sweet one to me because it’s my adopted home but for me this is the race I’ve been so close to winning so many times, second a couple of times, and to finally finish it off with this team is a dream come true,” Porte said after the finish of where this win ranks on his palmarès.
The only real moment it looked precarious was in the closing kilometres after Geraint Thomas slid out on the descent of the final climb, the Welshman making it back on after Porte had been momentarily isolated, but the Tasmanian says he feels he could have counted on compatriots Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious) and Ben O’Connor (Ag2r Citroën) if he’d needed assistance.
“We had a couple of Australians there,” Porte said of the moments after Thomas had crashed and was forced to chase back. “Jack was always going to help me out and Ben closed the gap to a couple of those guys on the descent, but full credit to G because coming into this race he said he was all in for me, come July I’ll be hopefully returning the favour for him, helping to win the Tour.”
The victory rarely seemed in doubt, given Ineos’ strength in depth, with Thoma placing on the podium and Tao Geoghegan Hart also sneaking into the top 10 on the final day, the British squad will hope this form transfers over to the main event in a few weeks.
“There were certain times there where you were waiting for attacks but we have so much talent in depth it does make it a lot easier,” Porte explained, and will surely be hoping the same is true when they come up against the likes of Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar next month.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“I mean, even the last 400m it’s rare that you can let it sink in and just enjoy, it’s just brilliant, I’ve always wanted to win this race, the second Aussie to do it and I’m over the moon.”
As for the hard work to come before the start in Britanny at the end of June, Porte says it’s nothing compared to the demands of being a father of two young children, his latest being born during last year’s French Grand Tour: “I’ve got two kids under three at home, nothing’s hard compared to that,” he joked.
“No, I’m under no illusions that I’m here [at Ineos] to help out and I think the way that Tao and G and those guys helped me I would love to repay them,” Porte added of winning the Dauphiné ahead of his leader at the upcoming Tour. “I don’t need that stress and pressure, I don’t know how they do it. For me, this feels like a Tour de France victory.”
Thank you for reading 20 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Is the Cycle to Work scheme disadvantaging those who really need it?
Questions have been raised about the commission providers charge local bike shops - but the scheme could be improved for users, too
By Sam Jones Published
-
It's Commuting Week at Cycling Weekly - here's what you can expect
Join us as we celebrate all things riding from A to B this week
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
-
Chords to cols: How Jonas Vingegaard went from guitars to Grand Tours
If he'd followed a music teacher's advice the 2022 Tour de France winner might have ended up starring on a different type of stage
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Roll on the Tour de France: Jonas Vingegaard ready after dominant Critérium du Dauphiné win
Tadej Pogačar is seemingly the only man in the world in between the Dane and a second Tour title
By Adam Becket Published
-
From doubts to a first pro win: Mikkel Bjerg takes stage four and yellow jersey at Critérium du Dauphiné
Jonas Vingegaard most impressive of general classification contenders on hot day in the Loire
By Adam Becket Published
-
Christophe Laporte doubles up at Critérium du Dauphiné with 'unexpected' stage three win
Frenchman proves his form and outfoxes Sam Bennett and Dylan Groenewegen to take second stage victory in three days
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I surprised myself’ - Julian Alaphilippe back to winning ways on stage two of Critérium du Dauphiné
Former world champion rediscovers form ahead of the Tour de France
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard to David Gaudu: Eight riders to watch at the Critérium du Dauphiné 2023
Stacked GC field also includes Adam Yates, Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa and Jai Hindley
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
After 'fighting with the best guys', Ben O'Connor is proud of his Critérium du Dauphiné podium
Australian heads into Tour de France with best WorldTour stage result in his pocket
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
By Adam Becket Published