The INEOS Grenadiers rider finished his run at the Tour de France with 38th on the 2021 edition, riding as a domestique for Richard Carapaz having targetted the general classification from 2016 to 2020 his best result of that period coming in 2020 when he finished third overall. That will be the high point of his Tour career, who ruled out any future participations in the race.
“Definitely it’s the last [Tour] I’ll do,” Porte said in an interview with the Herald Sun.
“I think I ticked the box last year with a podium finish, I’m not getting any younger and the race is only getting more and more crazy, so I feel like it’s time to pull the pin on my Tour career. It’s been a nice run, but it’s time."
Porte has been in great form throughout the 2021 season and had been touted as one of the team's leaders alongside Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart, and Carapaz heading into the race. The Australian displayed his climbing ability and nous to win the traditional Tour lead-up race, the Critérium du Dauphiné, just a couple of weeks before.
Porte said that he felt like he'd accomplished what he needed to at the Tour with his third-place finish behind winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and runner-up Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) in last year's race and went into this year's race without the pressure of competing for the win.
“I’d say compared to last year when I rode for the general classification at the Tour for myself, it’s a much different scenario," said Porte.
“Without all that stress and pressure every day, it’s been almost nice if you’re not needed you can get out of the chaos of the bunch sprints and do a job on a climb earlier and then not have to contest the final."
Porte is in Tokyo to compete in the Olympics road race on Saturday. The Australian was the main medal hope at the Rio Olympics, but crashed out on a descent in the latter stages of the race, fracturing his scapula in the fall.
“It does feel like a lifetime ago,” Porte said.
“It wasn’t the nicest Olympic experience obviously ending up in a hospital in Rio, so it would be nice to go these Games, albeit a strange Games for everybody, and have a bit better Olympic experience.
“It’s always nice to represent the country and something I get excited for, it’s a big motivation for sure.”
The Tokyo road race course, with over 4000m of climbing, should suit his strengths and he'll headline a squad that includes Lucas Hamilton, Luke Durbridge and Rohan Dennis.
