Tasmanian Richie Porte becomes only second Australian to stand on the Tour de France podium

Richie Porte said he ‘suffered like a pig’ but all the sacrifice was worth is after a stunning time trial ride in the Tour de France.

• Porte reveals how it felt to miss the birth of his daughter at the Tour de France
• Porte says 2020 Tour de France likely to be his last

A STUNNING ride by Tasmanian Richie Porte in Tour de France overnight has all but secured his place on the podium in the world’s toughest bike race.

The 35-year-old Tasmanian smashed out the 36.2km individual time trail stage in a time of 57min16.88sec to finish third on the mountain-top stage and into third position overall.

Speaking to SBS he said he was delighted with a podium finish in Paris.

“It’s been many years of disappointment, crashes and whatever, dramas,” he said.

“This is my dream to be on the podium.

“I’m just over the moon it feels like a victory to me to be third.

“Now I can retire happy, this means everything to me.”

Porte is only 122km away from creating sporting history on Sunday night when the race finishes in Paris. He is set to become only the second Australian to finish on the podium in the Tour.

Barring a disaster on the traditionally ceremonial final stage into Paris and the frenetic sprint around the Champs Elysees, the 35-year-old Tasmanian will claim third place in the three-week, 21-stage 3484km test of man and machine.

Richie Porte gives it all he’s got in the 36.2km individual time trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles. Picture: Getty Images.

The only other Australian to finish on the TDF podium since our first rider contested the event in 1914 is Cadel Evans, who won it in 2011 and finished second on two other occasions.

'@richie_porte climbs out of his skin and onto the podium.'#roarforrichie #SBSTDF #TDF2020 #couchpeloton #portepodiumparty pic.twitter.com/901B448MGo

— CyclingCentral (@CyclingCentral) September 19, 2020

After the stage Porte posted on his Instagram account that it had been a tough stage.

“Today I suffered like a pig for 57 excruciating minutes but the end result makes the sacrifices so worthwhile. What a day,” he wrote.

Porte carved his name into Australian sporting history with a powerhouse performance in the time trial overnight, which saw him step on to the virtual podium behind Slovenian pair Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic.

Fellow Australian Caleb Ewan, who was 128th on the stage 9min and 44 seconds behind Pogacar, tweeted his support for Porte.

Big congrats @Richie_porte on the podium place! What a ride!!

Big congrats @Richie_porte on the podium place! What a ride!!🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

— Caleb Ewan (@CalebEwan) September 19, 2020

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Porte, who hails from Launceston and lives in Monaco, missed the birth of his second child, daughter Eloise, who arrived on September 5, so he could race in what could be his final Tour de France.

At the time, Porte said: “Hurts more than words can express to miss the birth of your child, but thank you to my team Trek-Segafredo for being so supportive. Will be a long and tough race mentally now but the biggest gift awaits after Paris.”

Porte at full throttle on the time trial bike during the 20th stage of the Tour de France — the 36km stage between Lure and La Planche des Belles Fille. Picture: AFP

Porte started last night’s 36km time trial in fourth place overall in the General Classification for the yellow jersey.

He needed to make up 1m40s to jump Columbian Miguel Angel Lopez for a podium finish.

Porte claimed third in the time trial, missing second place by a split second.

The Tasmanian was powerful on the flat section aboard his time trial bike and swapped to his road bike for the 6km climb, costing him about five seconds in the change.

Australia’s three-time TDF Green Jersey winner Robbie McEwen said Porte had earned his place in sporting history.

“He’s missed getting second in the time trial. He’s got the third-fastest time but the big job was getting on the podium and he’s done it,” McEwen said.

“That elevates Richie Porte into third in the 2020 Tour de France.”