‘I’m much hungrier than last year’
Australian Richie Porte wants to exploit the confidence he gained in his first year as a professional.
“This year has given me more confidence to believe that I can do well in stage races,” he said in a team Saxo Bank press release. “Physically, it has changed me to perform a lot better in these races and with those things combined, I want to take advantage of my new abilities in 2011. I’m much hungrier than last year.”
Porte, 25, won the time trial stage of the Tour de Romandie in April. One month later, he wore the leader’s pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia and finished the race seventh overall in the white jersey of best young rider.
The Tasmanian will start his season at home this year at the Tour Down Under, January 16 to 23. Back in Europe, he wants to improve on his first year.
“I have a fantastic race program for 2011. I’m looking forward to be doing Tirreno-Adriatico, maybe Tour de Suisse and Tour of Romandie. Tour of Romandie is naturally special for me as I won the race time trial this year. It was my first professional win and I think I’m going to take on the 2011-edition of the race in better shape. I’m ready and want to make the step to the next level.”
Porte said in an interview last month that he also hopes to target one of the three Grand Tours: Giro d’Italia, Tour de France or Vuelta a España.
“I need to improve my abilities but when I do that,” he told France’s Cyclism’Actu, “I hope to be ready to fight to get great results in such races.”
He reflected on wearing the Giro’s pink jersey in his first three-week Grand Tour this year.
“Obviously, leading one of the big tours is a huge thing and perhaps even more when you are a neo pro,” he said in the press release. “I proudly wore it for three days and took the white jersey overall and the experience will stay in my mind for the years to come.”
Porte responsibility may increase more than he had planned due to Alberto Contador’s doping positive. Saxo Bank’s team owner, Bjarne Riis signed Contador in August, but test results later revealed he failed a doping test for Clenbuterol at the Tour de France.
The Spanish federation is expected to make a decision by February and may issue Contador a two-year ban. In the meantime, he attended the Saxo Bank training camp with Porte in Fuerteventura, Spain, last month.
“I really got the feeling that we are all friends in this team,” said Porte. “Surely, a large group of cyclists left this year but all the new guys on the team will be integrated in no time. I talked to Alberto while training and he is truly a great champion. He made sure to talk to everyone during the ride and he’s really humble in his way of approaching you.”
Porte travelled from his home in Monaco to Tasmania this week. He will stay there until the Tour Down Under.