Porte stays on pace with foes

RICHIE Porte enters Tour de France’s first mountain test with renewed vigour after a show of strength on Stage 3.

The Aussie emerged from two tough days in the wet to crucially finish with his main rivals, two seconds behind winner Peter Sagan, after a thrilling 212.5km ride from Verviers to Longwy.

“It was good for the confidence ... just to have a bit of a crack there,” Porte said.