Tasmanian superstar Richie Porte says 2020 Tour de France likely to be his last entering the “twilight” of career

Launceston’s cycling superstar Richie Port could be hitting the brakes on his career after he revealed this year’s Tour de France may be his last.

Australia's Richie Porte crosses the finish line of the thirteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27,2-kilometer individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)

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IT could be the end of the road for cycling superstar Richie Port after the Tasmanian revealed this year’s Tour de France may be his last.

Porte will have “one for the road” in the 2020 lap of France as the 35-year-old rider reveals his 10th TDF from August 29 to September 20 will also be his last, at least as a Yellow Jersey contender.

Porte said that, although his wife Gemma is due to give birth on September 12, 15 days into the three-week race, he would try to finally land a podium finish.

“At this stage of my career, we’ve made the decision that there are not going to be many more Tours to do, and that I should be at the race,” Porte said.

“Of course, it’s not ideal, and it’s not something that you want, but I also feel this is probably in the twilight of my career.

“I need to do the Tour and our sponsors have been really good as well, so you feel like you do need to make some sacrifices.

“To be honest, it’s the biggest sacrifice I can think of, but I’ll be ready to go to the Tour.”

Porte, of Launceston, made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d’Italia in 2010 when he led the race and wore the Pink Jersey on two stages, finished seventh overall and won the Young Rider (under-25) Classification.

In 2011 Porte earned his a spot on Team Saxo-Bank for the Tour de France, where he was a key domestique for Spain’s Alberto Contador.

The next year he joined British powerhouse Team Sky and helped Belgian-born Brit Bradley Wiggins win the TDF, and in 2013 was a super domestique and helped Sky rider, Kenyan-born Brit Chris Froome, win his maiden Tour.

In 2014 Porte was handed leadership of Team Sky after Froome’s abandonment, and finished 23rd overall, and the next year helped Froome win the Tour.

Porte switched to Team BMC in 2016 and finished fifth after his chances were wrecked when he was hit by a camera motorcycle.

Porte crashed out of the TDF in both 2017 and 2018, and after moving to Trek-Segafredo last year he finished 11th.