Richie Porte had a difficult 2014, with illness affecting every race he targeted during his European season. He was eventually diagnosed with mild pneumonia in August and forced to let his body recover but his season was a write-off. 2015 has been totally different. The Tasmanian has won nine races, including Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya, and topped the UCI WorldTour rankings until Alejandro Valverde won Liège-Bastogne-Liège. At the end of April he dominated the Giro del Trentino, confirming he is a favourite for the Giro d’Italia.
Porte was guaranteed leader status when he negotiated his latest contract at Team Sky. He was forced to miss the Giro last year but this season he has been confirmed as captain and his results so far have a set a trajectory that could put him on any of the steps of the final podium in Milan on May 31. He could become the first Australian to win the Giro d’Italia and so take Cadel Evan’s place as the best Australian Grand Tour rider in the peloton.
After a late start to his cycling career following years as a swimmer and triathlete, Porte has been a professional since joining Saxo Bank in 2010. He turned 30 in January but admits he has turned an important corner in his career after his problems of 2014. He was diagnosed with pneumonia but also realised he had to make some serious life style changes if he wanted to be a true Grand Tour contender. He recently revealed he has lost close to five kilogrammes after cutting back on his alcohol consumption and changing his diet. It seems that getting engaged also helped him find a far better life balance.
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“Last season was tough in lots of ways but it was a blessing in disguise,” Porte tells Cyclingnews in an exclusive interview before the Giro d’Italia.
“The specific thing for me was when I went to Manchester for tests (in August) from four different doctors to try to find out what was wrong with me. One of our team doctors said to me at the time: ‘There’s obviously something not right with your health but you’re not living the lifestyle of a professional bike rider.’ For me that was a big kick up the backside and the one I needed the most.
“My problems meant that I finished my season early, went back to Tasmania, got healthy and started training early for 2015. My fiancée was still in the UK and so I was living with my mum and dad and just training hard every day. Now I think I’m back on track. The work I put in during the off-season was exactly what I needed and I enjoyed doing it. I think I’ve really turned the corner in my career and this Giro d‘Italia is a big opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.”
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