CAN RICHIE EMULATE CADEL?
AUSTRALIA’S only Tour de France champion believes Richie Porte is ready to join him on cycling’s top step.
Cadel Evans said Porte was a “real contender” for the race he won in 2011 and, at 32, is ready to absorb the event’s mental and physical demands.
“I think he’s got it in him,” Evans said before last night’s 14km time- trial Tour opener along the Rhine River in Dusseldorf.
“The world can see that, he’s proven that and now most of the hard work is done … now it’s just a matter of executing.
“He’s had a great build-up. Every win … gives strength, confidence and boosts morale.”
As a countryman and former leader for Porte’s current team, BMC, Evans has proved an invaluable sounding board for the Tasmanian before his first Grand Tour as a fully protected rider.
The pair are in regular contact on WhatsApp and Evans has taken a keen interest in Porte’s development.
“This is an opportunity. It’s not something to be overwhelmed by, but an opportunity to take and make the most of,” Evans said.
“If they do everything right it’s a very achievable goal to be on the podium in Paris. Now he has all that experience under his belt, a good solid team behind him and … they’ve been consistent all year so they come here not only physically well prepared, but mentally convinced.
“There aren’t many teams in the Tour now who’ve won the Tour de France. BMC is one of those so in that regard I don’t think he could be in better hands.”
Porte has won Tour Down Under and Tour de Romandie this year, but Evans said the two bad days he’s had in a dominant season – the final day when he lost the yellow jersey at the Criterium du Dauphine and the crosswind carnage at Paris-Nice – could prove invaluable.
“But let’s see at the end of July if those lessons have been learnt. It’s shaping as a solid foundation,” Evans said.