Porte’s chance if he can stay on

FORGET storming the Bastille — on July 14, Richie Porte just wants to stay upright on his bike.

The French national day looms huge for the Australian cycling star because it is also Stage 9 in the Tour de France. Not only has Porte crashed out of the last two Tours in Stage 9, he also hit the deck last year in the same stage during the Vuelta a Espana. So when asked about his Tour ambitions from July 6, the Tasmanian takes a very short-term view.

“I haven’t made the first rest day in the last two years, so that [after Stage 10) is my No.1 goal,” Porte said.

Porte suffered horrific injuries in a high-speed crash two years ago and 12 months ago, an innocuous pile-up early in Stage 9 left him with a fractured collarbone.

“It’s the point I want to get past, but at the end of the day it will be just another stage that needs to be done,” he said. “So yeah, once we get to the end of Stage 9, it will be a little bit of a monkey off the back.

“It’s another stage in the road book that hopefully we can just turn the page on.”

At 34, Porte is running out of chances to realise his dream of a podium finish at the Tour.

Illness has undermined his European season so far, but it means the Trek-Segafredo team leader goes into the race under no pressure.

Another massive factor in the Tour will be the absence of four-time champion Chris Froome and fellow top contender Tom Dumoulin.

Froome suffered horrific injuries in a bike crash before a Dauphine stage and Dumoulin has failed to overcome a knee injury.

However, Porte said Froome’s Ineos team remains the strongest line-up in the Tour.