Richie Porte produced a super performance to launch Chris Froome to win stage ten of the Tour de France before he chased down and passed Nairo Quintana for second himself, 59 seconds down on his teammate and yellow jersey holder.

Porte has clearly recovered from his disappointment at crashing out of the Giro d’Italia, and says people shouldn’t be surprised at what he can do after he has won Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya and Giro del Trentino this season.

“People are so quick to forget the season that I’ve already had,” Porte said from the steps of the Sky bus. “It’s been fantastic so far. The Giro was a massive disappointment, but I think for me to have gone home a bit early — I think you saw today — most of the guys who finished that Giro are really tired. It was such a hard race.”

This has helped silence doubters who said he wouldn’t work as he is leaving Team Sky at the end of the season, as DS Nicholas Portal reiterated.

“Richie squeezed everyone, and then Froome just attacked,” sport director Nicolas Portal said.

“We told Richie this morning, you are going to be good, but he’s said that he didn’t have any mountain racing since the Giro."

“We believe in him, though, we know him well. His help, even if everyone knows he’s leaving Sky, shows that he’s here to help Froome win.”