Team Sky – Porte leads strong start
Team Sky – Porte leads strong start
While last year’s Tour Down Under should teach us it is far too early to be reading into the form of Richie Porte and co at Team Sky, it has certainly been a solid start to the season.
Porte’s win on Willunga Hill, for the second consecutive year, and second place overall showed he is over the illnesses which beset his 2014 campaign and give great cause for optimism this season.
He was too strong for his rivals on his Willunga Hill and told the media afterwards he is lighter than last year and feeling in great shape.
Team-mate Peter Kennaugh, the British champion, also impressed with his white, blue and red jersey almost omnipresent on the front of the bunch – including putting in some huge digs for his team leader and twice getting into a break to control proceedings from the very front of the race.
Both Porte and Kennaugh have points to prove this season, particularly with heightened competition for places in Team Sky’s WorldTour squads.
With Porte having also regained his Australian time trial champion’s jersey, it is definitely a case of so far, so good as Sky look for big success in their sixth season in the pro peloton.