Richie Porte will wear the BMC Racing jersey in 2016. The Australian rider will lead the US team at the Tour de France alongside American Tejay van Garderen. General manager, Jim Ochowicz has told Velonews that his new recruit is able to win at the French three-week race.

Porte helped Sky win three editions of the Tour, once with Bradley Wiggins and twice with Chris Froome. "What happened in the past is in the past. In terms of performance, he’s been a winner and a loser too. [His bad luck is not] due to a lack of preparation or conditioning," Ochowicz explained. "I’ve not seen him wither away on the bike unless there was a real reason for it. He can win a grand tour because he can go three weeks in a stage race, he has the qualities and abilities, he’s a good rider in the peloton, he can hold his position. He can climb and time trial, and that’s more of what this 2016 Tour is about."

Richie Porte has the characteristics to become the Australia’s second grand tour winner fter Cadel Evans, . "He has a strong will. It’s his own personal characteristics. I noticed that in Cadel [Evans] and Rohan [Dennis]; the Australians have a strong constitution. And of course, you have to have a lot of luck. Just look at this year — Chris Froome almost crashed a couple of times. And not to his fault, but what happens around you."

Ochowicz added that Porte will not race the Giro d’Italia. He will have a program that will allow him to build condition for the Tour de France.