I awoke this morning to news that Richie Porte had taken overall victory at the 2012 Volta ao Algarve.
This is Porte's maiden victory at the top level and the first of the year for his new team Sky Procycling, after two very solid years working under Bjarne Riis at Team Saxo Bank.
Porte was third in the final time trial (13 seconds back), but had enough time up his sleeve to take the overall victory ahead of 2011 champion Tony Martin and Sky team mate Bradley Wiggins.
Along the way Porte managed a stage 3 victory, which ironically knocked another team mate (Edvald Boassan Hagen) off the top step of the podium.
This victory is validation for Porte, but hardly a surprise given he wore the pink jersey and took home the white jersey for the best young rider in his first grand tour, the 2010 Giro d'Italia.
Richie Porte's stocks are on the rise and it's great to see another Australian doing so well in the general classification. If he continues on this trajectory he is really going to be one to watch in the general classification in years to come.
Chapeau Richie, job well done!
~VL
Photo Credit: Jose Antonio Fernandes
