Richie Porte: "I think this team in the future will be the top team again"

Richie Porte has begun what will be his last year in the pro peloton and despite being in a more supportive role at INEOS Grenadiers, the Tasmanian has found great form this past week in Italy as he soared to a fourth place in the overall classification, a performance he hadn't shown since the Criterium du Dauphiné of last year which he won.

"I was really happy with the stage [Saturday at Carpegna], to be up there with the top climbers at the top of the climb. On the descent, I didn’t see any reason to take any risks. Even doing it at a safe pace, it was pretty sketchy. Enough’s been said whether it should be in the race or not. I was happy to get through with fourth on GC, I’m quite satisfied with that," Porte told VeloNews.

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On Pogacar's performance at Monte Carpegna where Porte showed a glimpse of his best form, he was surprised to see how Tadej Pogacar had attacked the leading group: "When he jumped, it wasn’t like we were doing ridiculous power. He is a level above, he just rode off. No one was even able to react. It was just ridiculously hard and he just clipped off, and that was the last we saw of him."

"Right now, Pogačar is a level above, Roglič also I suppose. The sad thing is with Tadej is now that he has to answer questions and insinuations. I just think he is absolute class. He is a great kid and it’s exciting for the future of the sport. I think he’s going to be the best of the best," he added.

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As for his own team's sake, Richie Porte is not worried about the future. Despite having been active at both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, the team is missing some of it's big names: "I still think we’re the best team in the peloton. At this point, with the big guys missing: Geraint [Thomas] is sick, [Richard] Carapaz is sick, and obviously what happened to Egan [Bernal]. The good news there is that he’s back on the bike."

"You look at UAE and Jumbo-Visma, you hope those guys enjoy what they’re on at the moment. Because those times don’t last forever. I think this team in the future will be the top team again," he concluded."