Unable to end his contract a year early and change teams
Australian rider Richie Porte will once again compete in a Team Saxo Bank jersey next season. The talented 25 year old was trying to get out of the remaining year of his contract with the Danish team, but was told in recent days by general manager Bjarne Riis that he would be going nowhere. He’s now accepted that he is staying put, and appears happy with the decision.
“No, I will not go to Luxembourg,” he told Procycling.no, referring to the new Team Schleck. “I’ve had a good chat with Bjarne and it becomes an interesting period for Saxo Bank.
“It is a pity that the Schleck brothers leave the team, because they are some fine people. Contador is also a great champion,” he said, a coupe of days before the Spaniard’s positive test was announced. “I do not know him, but everyone says he is a nice guy. I also have a contract for next season too. Saxo Bank is probably the best team to ride for.”
Porte took the latest result in what has been a superb season today when he finished fourth in the Elite world time trial championship, one minute 19 behind the winner Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) and just seven seconds off the bronze gained by Tony Martin (Germany).
His other results include a stunning time trial win in the Tour de Romandie, followed up by a spell in the Maglia Rosa at the Giro d’Italia, victory in the best young rider classification and seventh overall in the race.
More recently, he finished tenth in the Clasica San Sebastian, second in the time trial in the Tour of Denmark, fourth in the TT in the Eneco Tour and fourth overall there. He was also fourth overall in the Tour of Britain.
One plus of staying where he is the fact that he knows many people. “There’s a lot of fine people there, although there will probably be some new faces next year,” he said. “It will be a solid change of guard, but Bjarne has shown repeatedly that he can build new teams. I think it will be a return to the CSC days, when it was a powerhouse team.”