Richie Porte becomes Team Sky’s leading man at Tour de France

AUSTRALIA’S Richie Porte will take over as Team Sky’s leader in the Tour de France after defending champion Chris Froome crashed out.

YPRES, BELGIUM - JULY 09: Richie Porte of Australia and Team SKY crosses the finish line during the fifth stage of the 2014 Tour de France, a 155km stage between Ypres and Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, on July 9, 2014 in Ypres, Belgium. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA’S Richie Porte will take over as Team Sky leader in the Tour de France after defending champion Chris Froome crashed out.

Froome entered Wednesday’s rain-soaked fifth stage from Ypres to Arenberg Porte de Hinaut wearing a splint on his wrist after a fall the previous day.

The British cyclist got back on his bike after toppling 40 minutes into Wednesday’s race, but got into team’s car after a second fall an hour later.

He confirmed his withdrawal on Twitter.

Devastated to have to withdraw from this years TDF. Injured wrist and tough conditions made controlling my bike near to impossible.

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 9, 2014

Thanks to the team & support staff for trying to get me through today. Wishing @richie_porte & @TeamSky the best for the rest of Tour!

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 9, 2014

Riding to minimise losses, Porte finished 20th, 2mins 11sec behind stage winner Lars Boom, lifting himself to an eighth overall ranking, 1:54 behind race leader Vincenzo Nibali.

Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford said he was devastated to lose Froome, but that Porte was very capable of taking over.

“In Richie Porte, he’s come into this team, we’ve selected him to be the number two; he had great ability today and great courage with Geraint (Thomas) to ride the cobbles the way he did and given the way it’s timed at the minute, we’ve got an exciting couple of weeks to come.”

Chris and Richie Porte train together ahead of the Tour de France.

Thomas said that before the crashes Sky had already put into practice a contingency plan.

“To hear Froomey crashed early on, it was ‘not again’ sort of thing,” Thomas said.

“But we knew going into today we had Richie as well and it was a kind of two-pronged attack.

“They were both on an equal footing in the team so it changed then for Richie and so I think it was a pretty successful day really when you look at that.”

In a post on Twitter, Porte expressed his disappointment at losing Froome.

Going to miss having @chrisfroome around for this TdF but sure he'll be back next year stronger than ever #lionheart

— Richie Porte (@richie_porte) July 9, 2014