Team Sky and Fly V rumoured to be interested
Despite having a year left in his contract with the Saxo Bank team, the in-form Australian rider Richie Porte is on the wish list of several other teams for 2011.
The Australian began a two year deal with the Danish team at the start of this season, but it is understood that he has been recently courted by other teams.
Porte rode strongly at the Tour of Britain and chatter on the race was that Team Sky was interested in signing him for next season if he is available. VeloNation understands that other teams are also open to discussions with him, with the team currently known as Fly V Australia being mentioned.
It will have a new title sponsor next year, a vastly bigger budget, and is trying to secure ProTour status plus the necessary top-level riders.
The young Australian’s performances in his debut European pro season 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.
For Porte to be able to move, he would have to negotiate the early cessation of his contract with team owner Bjarne Riis, who is likely to want him to remain on board. Any agreement on the matter would necessitate the payment of a buy-out clause, much as world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara has done.
Neither Porte nor his agent Andrew McQuaid were available for comment.