Riding in support of Chris Froome for the first time this season, Richie Porte’s return from the illness which forced him to abandon Tirreno-Adriatico was always likely to be a low-key affair. But having come through training no problem, the Australian struggled on his return to competitive racing, finishing almost three minutes back with team-mates Danny Pate and Josh Edmondson for company in the grupetto.

Team Sky insist they will be monitoring his condition closely, but with time ticking down rapidly until the Giro d’Italia, where Porte is set to lead Team Sky, concerns must be growing for the Australian. He has earned his shot at team leadership thanks to meaningful support for Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Chris Froome in 2013, and up until his illness, the signs were certainly good as he showed good form at the Tour Down Under and Tirreno-Adriatico. Here’s hoping for a quick and full recovery and the chance for us to see just what the Aussie ace is capable of at the Giro.