BMC targeting Tour de France triumph with Porte
UCI road world time trial champions BMC Racing expect Richie Porte to challenge for the yellow jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
After years as Chris Froome's support act at Team Sky, Richie Porte will focus his efforts on winning the Tour de France in 2016 following his switch to BMC Racing.
The Australian announced his intention to leave Sky in August in order to assume a team leader role, a position BMC were delighted to offer – although he will share the honour with Tejay van Garderen.
Porte played a key part in Froome's two Tour success in 2013 and 2015, but BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz confirmed the 30-year-old will be looking to beat his former team-mate in next year's race.
"Comparing 2016 to 2015, it's going to be a change for him [Porte]," Ochowicz told Cycling Weekly. "You won't see him at the Giro [d'Italia], that's one thing.
"That preparation to get to the Giro becomes a big endeavour. By eliminating the Giro, the focus gets to the Tour.
"It's clear, he's a GC [general classification] rider, a good climber, time trialist, a good team time trial rider – all the categories that we like to see someone in.
"We think the training and the coaching, and the direction will potentially help him become a better athlete."
Porte can expect to be busy, though, as Ochowicz plans plenty of racing to ensure he is ready for the Grand Depart on July 2 in Mont Saint-Michel.
He added: "The Tour is the pinnacle, but we can't just show up to the Tour without having done something beforehand.
"We are expecting to see results right from the start."