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Porte tipped for Worlds by defending champion Cancellara

Oct 20, 2009
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<p>Richie Porte is only in his first full season as a professional, but he has already caught the attention of the world with his performances at the Tour de Romandie and the Giro d'Italia. Today, Fabian Cancellara named the Australian Saxo bank team-mate as a favourite to become the next time trial World Champion on Thursday.</p><p>
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"He surprised the team and the cycling world with a super-great performance in the Giro d'Italia and also the rest of the season," Cancellara said today at a press conference in Melbourne.</p><p>
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"For me, for a first year as a professional, it has been a great season and he will have a huge future."</p><p>
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Porte will race the time trial just a short distance from his birthplace in Tasmania. Today he travelled to the Worlds venue in Geelong after making a short visit, the first in a year, to visit his mom and dad, Penny and Ian, and his three brothers.</p><p>
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Penny and Ian will travel to Geelong to see their son race for the first time this year. The time trial on Thursday consists of two laps of a 22.9-kilometre circuit, or 45.8 kilometres. It won't be easy as each lap covers the climb to Scenic Road and the climb up Aphrasia St.</p><p>
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Porte has what it takes.</p><p>
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He proved his abilities with his breakthrough performance this year at the Tour of Romandy in Moudon, Switzerland. To win the time trial, he beat some of the same competitors he will find on Thursday. Over 23.4 kilometres, the short and powerful Australian put 29 seconds into three-time world champion, Australian Michael Rogers, and over a minute to last year's Worlds silver medallist, Gustav Larsson.</p><p>
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At the Giro d'Italia, he claimed seventh overall after there weeks of racing partly due to his time trial rides. On the opening day in Amsterdam, he finished as the best-placed young rider and sixth behind winner Brad Wiggins.</p><p>
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"He has a very good power to weight ratio, a good anaerobic delivery, a good body build. He ticked all the boxes," said Saxo Bank sports director, Brad McGee.</p><p>
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"He has proved to have impressive time trial abilities. It is as if he was little missile."</p><p>
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Porte willl ride his time trial on Specialized's Shiv bicycle. He has been using it in training since he received it last month.</p><p>
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After he represents Australia in the time trial, he will travel back to Europe for the rest of the cycling season. Team Saxo Bank wants him to race the end of season Italian races alongside Andy Schleck.</p><p>
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Porte's last race in Europe was over a week ago at the Tour of Britain. He finished fourth overall after losing precious time in the final sprint stages.</p>

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