Porte takes mortgage on TDU with Willunga win
ADELAIDE, Australia: Tasmania’s Richie Porte won the iconic Willunga Hill stage of the Tour Down Under for the fourth year in a row Saturday with a superb attack from two kilometres out.
Porte’s bold move two-thirds of the way up the second climb of Willunga Hill left the more fancied Colombian climbers Sergio Henao and Esteban Chaves in his wake.
The Australian, whose BMC Racing team believes he is a real contender for the Tour de France, crossed the finish line 20 seconds ahead of fellow countryman Nathan Haas and Chaves.
He now leads the General Classification by 48 seconds from Orica-Scott’s Chaves and is virtually assured of winning the season-opening UCI World Tour race on the streets of Adelaide on Sunday.
“That street circuit in Adelaide is not easy, anything can happen there,” Porte said.
“But I’m happy with where I’m at at the moment, I put some good time into the other guys and I think it’ll make tomorrow a little bit more relaxed.”
Porte conceded his eyes were on the Tour de France later this year.
“This is not an easy climb and to win it is great for morale,” he said.
“Obviously the biggest goal for me is July at the Tour de France. Things are going well,” Porte added.
Sunday’s final stage is a 90kilometre race through an Adelaide street circuit.