It's been six months since Richie Porte announced that would be leaving Team Sky and joining BMC Racing, and just over four months since he last raced his bike. A silver medal ride in his Australian national time trial defence was therefore a result the 30-year-old can be content in the larger picture of his 2016 season with as teammate Rohan Dennis claimed his first elite title.
"It's more than what I expected to be honest," said Porte of his result which was two seconds slower than his 2015 winning time. "A bit more of a relaxed start to the year. I am happy to be on the podium to be honest, I am not surprise to see that Rohan's taken this win. He deserves it, he's hungry and I know how much he's wanted that national jersey."
12-months ago Porte was looking to hit peak form in May for the Giro d'Italia which featured a 59.4km time trial. Fast forward to 2016 and the circumstances are almost completely different with a new time trial bike, gusty winds over rainy weather and the fact that Porte will co-lead the BMC team in July at the Tour de France alongside Tejay van Garderen.
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Porte explained that he sees the two time trials of the Tour de France as vital to the aspirations of the GC contenders and his second place on a new bike reaffirms he is heading in the right direction with months ahead to build the required form and condition.
"[team Performance Manager] Allan Peiper said that if I won today he would throttle me so to be one month of training into a new season and finish second to a class time trialler like Rohan is a great way to start," he said. "This year, Tejay and myself, our big goal is in July. I am happy to go back to Tasmania and do some good training and start the season fit and healthy.
"Back in 2010 I was fourth at Worlds so I can time trial when I have to. Definitely this year with the time trials at the Tour de France they will be crucial to a good GC so I think we are really working on it. BMC is a great time trial team so with the work we've done, I am really happy."
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