"The atmosphere was like nothing else": The King of Willunga Hill returns to Adelaide for Hall of Fame induction

Richie Porte will return to the Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide next week to receive the event's highest honor. The retired Australian climber, who built a reputation for invincibility on the race's defining climb, has been announced as the sole addition to the Hall of Fame for this edition. Organizers have also confirmed that Porte will complete a ceremonial ascent of Willunga Hill ahead of the professional peloton.

Porte’s relationship with the Australian WorldTour opener is truly historic. He claimed victory on the race's queen stage at Willunga Hill an unprecedented six consecutive times between 2014 and 2019. Next week, the 40-year-old will join an exclusive club of inaugural inductees that includes Mike Turtur, Simon Gerrans, André Greipel, Phil Liggett, and the late Paul Sherwen.

Before becoming one of the world's best stage racers, serving as a key lieutenant for Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins before achieving his own Tour de France podium in 2020, Porte’s journey began on the Australian roads.

"I started coming to the TDU with the national team in 2008, the first year it was WorldTour, and it was such an honour to come along and it really kick-started my career," Porte recalled in an statement shared by the official website of the Tour Down Under. "That’s where the likes of Stuart O’Grady saw my name and put the word in to help me turn professional."

He returned later in his career to dominate the general classification, winning the Ochre Jersey in 2017 and 2020, along with four runner-up finishes.

"To then come back some years later and actually win the race, it’s still a career highlight, and Willunga was always my favourite Saturday of racing for the year," he said. "The atmosphere was like nothing else with thousands of people on the roads it felt like the closest thing to an Aussie Rules grand final, it was electric every year. Adelaide in January was always a very happy place for me."

For years, Porte’s dominance on Willunga Hill was so absolute that his victory seemed inevitable to fans. That created a lot of pressure. "I always felt pressure to perform as well, that drive out there on race morning and in training for months before it was always in the back of my mind that stage," Porte admitted.

"Everyone used to say ‘Richie will attack on the same spot on Willunga’, but I couldn’t tell you where that was, I just felt when the moment was right. So when I look back on it now and to have won so many times, it was very kind to me."

While Willunga was his fortress, Porte also raised his arms in other places. "As was the climb up Paracombe as well. I was out in my garden just the other day watering my pear tree and that’s what you got for winning up Paracombe – a pear tree – so there are nice memories there as well," he shared.

Porte will be joined in Adelaide by his parents, wife, and two children. He is scheduled to appear as a special guest alongside commentator Matt Keenan for "Talking Tour" in the City of Adelaide Tour Village on Thursday, January 22.

However, the highlight for fans will occur on Saturday, January 24. Before the men's peloton battles for the general classification, Porte will ride the climb. "It will be the first time I can actually ride up and enjoy it and take it all in. I remember talking to Simon Gerrans the first year he couldn’t win the race, and I asked him how was Willunga, and he said he could actually enjoy it. So it will be a massive honour and a privilege to be able to go back and soak it all in."

He added that sharing the moment with his family is a priority. "I’ve managed to stay fit enough that I can still get up there and having my parents, wife and kids there to share it with me will mean so much, it’s really nice of the race to let me have that opportunity."