Richie Porte to lead Team Sky's challenge at Giro d'Italia
Australian to be supported by squad rich with climbers
Last Updated: 07/05/15 4:17pm
Team Sky have confirmed Richie Porte will lead their bid for victory at this month’s Giro d’Italia and have surrounded the Australian with a squad rich with climbing talent.
The Giro, which is the first of the year’s three grand tours and takes place from May 9-31, is Porte’s main target for the season and he goes into the three-week race on the back of a stellar campaign so far.
The 30-year-old won Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya and the Giro del Trentino in recent weeks and is poised for a close battle with the likes of Alberto Contador and Rigoberto Uran for the pink jersey.
The crux of the race could well be the 59.4km time trial on stage 14, but there are also six summit finishes and Team Sky have consequently called upon some of their strongest climbers to support Porte’s challenge.
Leopold Konig, who was seventh at last year’s Tour de France, and Mikel Nieve are likely to be his chief domestiques, while up-and-coming Colombian Sebastian Henao and Belarusian duo Vasil Kiryienka and Kanstantsin Siutsou – all adept climbers – have also been selected.
Bernhard Eisel and Salvatore Puccio will provide power on the flat, while Elia Viviani has been chosen to contest the sprints.
Porte said: “The Giro d’Italia has been my main goal of the season. I have worked very hard through the winter and am entering the race strong, healthy and up for the challenge.
“The competition will be tough, and obviously anything can happen in a grand tour, but we have got a great group of riders going into the race and we are ready for it.”
Team Sky have never won the Giro but team principal Sir Dave Brailsford believes the squad is strong enough to challenge for overall victory.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: “We have got Richie Porte, who has had a fantastic season – the best season he has ever had, actually. He is going in as our leader and if he performs to the level he has performed to at the start of the season, then we really think he could be riding for the win.
"Alberto Contador goes in as race favourite but given Richie's performances all year, then why not? Aim for big things and be ambitious. If you don't think about winning then you never will, so let's aim to win."
Brailsford also explained his thinking behind the other riders he has selected.
He added: “The first stage is a team time trial, so we needed some really strong time-triallists. Also we have got Leopold Konig, who is new to the team this year. He has ridden two grand tours in the past and finished top 10 in both.
“Mikel Nieve is in there because he is a pure mountain climber. He is one of the riders we would expect to support Richie right on those six mountain-top finishes."
Team Sky’s Giro d’Italia squad
Richie Porte (Aus), Mikel Nieve (Esp), Leopold Konig (Cze), Vasil Kiryienka (Blr), Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Sebastian Henao (Col), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Salvatore Puccio (Ita), Elia Viviani (Ita).
