Richie Porte won't let national pride get in the way of burying Cadel Evans in the Tour de France

IF Richie Porte has the opportunity to bury Cadel Evans - one of his idols - on the Tour de France, he will not hesitate.

Cadel Evans

IF Richie Porte has the opportunity to bury Cadel Evans - one of his idols - on the Tour de France, he will not hesitate.

Porte has unbridled respect for Evans, lauding the Victorian for his excellent Giro d'Italia third placing.

But, true to an unquenchable competitive instinct, Porte hopes the exertion of chasing Vincenzo Nibali throughout the toughest of the three grand tours will sap the 2011 champion for the centenary Tour.

"That's just vintage Cadel,'' Porte said of the Giro. "He's the underdog still for some reason. He wins the Tour and 'Worlds' and he's still always having to prove himself.

"But that's just cycling in general isn't? You're only as good as your last race.

"I think third in such a hard Giro was mighty impressive.

"The patriotic Aussie in me says that - but I also sort of hope such a hard Giro has taken a little bit out of his legs for this Tour.''

Porte (Sky) and Evans (BMC) are likely to vie not only for podium positions but also the honour of being Australia's highest-placed finisher.

And despite the oafish bile directed at him and Michael Rogers for attacking defending champion Evans last year, Porte will have no qualms are meting out the same treatment this year.

"This is a thing that people don't understand how it works,'' Porte said, recalling the heckling he received for counter-attacking Evans on the 11th stage to La Toussuire.

"Mick has pulled him (Evans) back and then we got abused by the Australian supporters there.

"I mean, whatever, but if you gonna make the trip all the way to France to watch the Tour, you need to understand that Cadel was attacking us in every race before the Tour.

"We were working all year for Brad (Wiggins).

"Before you throw abuse at us, understand that this is our job.

"We get paid to ride for a leader. Cadel is not our leader. Doesn't matter that he's Australian.

"You chase him down.''

The Tour de France starts on June 29.