Reigning champ Richie Porte to kick off bid to become first back-to-back winner of Tour Down Under

RICHIE Porte will kick off his ochre jersey defence in Port Adelaide today and has welcomed the pressure coming back on him at this year’s Santos Tour Down Under, if not to defend his title then to win on Old Willunga Hill for a fifth year in a row.

Reigning ochre jersey winner Richie Porte and Luis Sanchez Gil before the start of the Santos Tour Down Under People's Choice Classic criterium on Sunday. Picture: AFP PHOTO / BRENTON EDWARDS

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RICHIE Porte has welcomed the pressure coming back on him for this week’s Santos Tour Down Under (TDU), if not to defend his title then to win on Old Willunga Hill for a fifth year in a row.

The BMC leader starts Tuesday’s race as favourite for the ochre jersey but will be simply looking to avoid trouble and splits in the bunch on a sprinter-friendly Stage 1 from Port Adelaide to Lyndoch.

No rider has ever gone back-to-back in the TDU’s 19-year history and Porte is hoping to change that.

“To win the Tour Down Under last year after being close so many times was great,” Porte said.

“But I’d still love to do it again.

“Simon (Gerrans) and I were talking about it the other day that nobody has ever gone back to back.

“Simon won it every second year (2006, 2012, 2014, 2016), so of course it would be nice motivation.

BMC riders Simon Gerrans, Richie Porte, Rohan Dennis and Miles Scotson with BMC director of business Solutions Georges Luchinger and Swisse Wellness ANZ managing director Oliver Horn on the pool deck of the Hilton Hotel on Monday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“If there is not expectation (on me) to win (again) then there will be expectation to win on Willunga and I’d love to win another Willunga.

“It would be a great way to start the season to try to win this race again.

“And for an Aussie it’s the best race to win, it’s easily the best race in Australia and the biggest race and it’s a great one to have on your palmares.

“To see your name on the stairs as you walk into the Hilton, for an Aussie cyclist or anyone it’s quite an achievement.

“Certainly last Sunday’s national road race was hard, but not quite hard enough. For me it was a nice hitout and I think my form is pretty good, not sure if it’s as good as last year but we will see.”

Porte is one of four Australians on the roster at BMC which has strengthened its links to the country by unveiling new corporate partner Swisse Wellness on Monday.

The team revealed its logo will not feature on the jersey this season but negotiations are ongoing as BMC searches for sponsorship beyond 2018.

Porte said he felt good in Sunday night’s People’s Choice Classic and was excited for the race proper to begin.

“I had good sensations last night but we have a fantastically strong team here as well so I’m super-motivated and looking forward to kicking the season off proper (on Tuesday),” he said.

Richie Porte wins on Willunga Hill at last year’s event on his way to winning the ochre jersey. Picture Sarah Reed

Riders are bracing for warm weather this week including a sweltering 41C for Thursday’s Stage 3 from Glenelg to Victor Harbor.

Former winner Rohan Dennis said he would need to adjust to conditions like the visiting Europeans after spending his pre-season in Andorra.

“I came here after Christmas so it will be a bit of a worry for me more than these guys (teammates) but having that hitout at nationals four hours in some sort of heat was the best thing I could do,” he said.

“Fingers crossed it’s a little bit cooler down there (Victor Harbor) but you just make sure it doesn’t crack you mentally.”