Richie Porte nine seconds from leader in Paris-Nice Tour

AUSTRALIAN Richie Porte has turned in an impressive performance in the prologue of the Paris-Nice cycling event to be just nine seconds off the pace.

Richie-Porte

AUSTRALIAN Richie Porte has turned in an impressive performance in the prologue of the Paris-Nice cycling event to be just nine seconds off the pace in the 71st edition of the famous tour.

With Tour de France champion Brad Wiggins and rising star Chris Froome absent from the event, their team-mate Porte is the main man for the powerhouse Team Sly outfit in the week-long race.

This morning the Tasmanian, considered by many a potential Tour de France champion, finished 39th but conceded only nine seconds in the 2.9km time trial to be well placed in the mix for the overall honours.

"Richie produced a really good ride today and is ideally positioned among the (general classification) guys. It was a technical prologue but the conditions were perfect and he rode it in a very neat and controlled manner. He was happy with his performance," said Team Sky sports Director Nicolas Portal

Frenchmen Damien Gaudin (3min 27) and Sylvain Chavanel (3m:28) dominated the time trial with Dutch rider Lieuwe Westra (3m:28) third.

Orica GreenEDGE rider and former world under 23 road champion Michael Matthews was the best placed Australian in 23rd place, seven seconds off the pace with Mark Renshaw eight seconds off the leader in 38th place.