The decision of Team Sky’s management to withdraw the Paris-Nice defending champion Richie Porte to replace injured Chris Froome as a captain in star-studded Tirreno-Adriatico was a huge blow to Amaury Sport Organization, as this season’s edition of the Race to the Sun has already lacked serious grand tour contenders due to its novel route.

Interviewed by Cyclingnews right after the changes in Team Sky’s rosters for Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico were announced, Tasmanian rider insisted that even though the disappointment expressed by ASO was absolutely understandable, the abrupt decision was, in fact, based on very reasonable grounds considering the route of the Italian stage race being more suitable to Porte’s characteristics.

"I totally understand the remarks from the ASO," Porte told Cyclingnews on Sunday.

"Paris-Nice is an historic race and very important to the ASO, and also it's very important to me too, as it was the first big race I won in my career.”

And also the last one to date, but last year’s victory of the Tasmanian in Paris-Nice was indeed a highly convincing one. Team Sky’s most reliable lieutenant prevailed in the typically unfavorable weather conditions to strip off the yellow jersey from Garmin-Sharp’s Andrew Talansky following his perfectly timed attack on the Montagne du Lure and eventually crushed whole opposition with stunning performance in the final time trial.

This year, however, the route of the Race to the Sun is very different than its previous editions, lacking any decisive mountaintop finishes and the traditional time trial on a final day what was explained by ASO with their desire to create more opened competition.

The Paris-Nice organizers certainly succeeded in creating opened competition with this season’s parcours, as the race is very likely to be determined on a final day and the reverse of more general trends has to be marked from this year on, as the French stage race should quickly turn into the event serving as a perfect final preparation for classics specialists, with Tirreno-Adriatico attracting grand tours’ main contenders.

Thus, it has been clear since the new route was announced that it won’t be a one to the liking of the defending champion, even with some voices suggesting that the new direction taken by ASO is meant to favour French riders in the likes of Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) or Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar). Still, Porte’s withdrawal was a huge blow to organizers, and their remarks mentioned by Tasmanian were in fact rather acute, calling his move “cavalier”.
 

"I looked at the Paris-Nice parcours this year and it was not one that suited me. If the Paris-Nice course was the same as last year, I would still be racing Paris- Nice, but it’s not. It’s a different race with the same name."

"I have been professional now for years and I have never done Tirreno," said Porte of the week-long race commonly referred to as the 'Race of the Two Seas' due to its route between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatico coasts of Italy.

"I have always done Paris-Nice and other than last year it has always been the race I've always been the most nervous about all season.

Froome’s abrupt withdrawal from the Italian stage race caused more changes in Team Sky’s rosters, with Ben Swift participating in Strade Bianche instead of Bradley Wiggins, now due to support Porte in Tirreno-Adriatico, and Geraint Thomas retaking the leadership role in Paris-Nice.

Despite the final outcome of Porte’s campaign in Tirreno-Adriatico, the switch can provide the British squad with a very positive results in France as in-form Thomas is certainly better suited to excel on classics-alike parcours the race offers this year and certainly will be keen to use the rare opportunity to improve his position in Team Sky’s hierarchy.

In the interview for Cyclingnews Porte confirmed information about both Froome’s back injury and Thomas’ ability to perform well as a newly appointed leader for Paris-Nice.

"I have been training with Chris and Geraint quite a lot, and it was obvious Chris had some discomfort in his back and they rightly decided to pull him out to get on top of it early in the season. As for Geraint, he is moving very well and is in great condition. He will do fine."

Even though both Porte and Wiggins have changed their schedules to fill Froome’s boots in Tirreno-Adriatico, the tiny Tasmanian insists that roles in the British squad are very well defined and there will be no discussion over the leadership during their Italian campaign.

"Wiggo has changed his focus this year, in Tirreno he is riding in support of me.

"His goals are more for time trials, and his goal [at Tirreno] will be to have a great team time trial and then finish off the race with a great individual time trial,” added Porte referring to the 16.9km team time trial from Donoratico to San Vincenzo on stage one and the 9.2km individual time trial from San Benedetto del Tronto on the final stage seven."

"For me, I will go there and look at the GC and have a good go at that."

Asked about the favorites to take the spoils in the star-studded Race of the Two Seas, Porte pointed out to his fellow countryman Cadel Evans (BMC) considering his strong performance in Strade Bianche, as well as highly motivated Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and recording more quiet starts to the season Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

"Obviously Cadel rode yesterday in Strade Bianche and was up there attacking," said Porte of Evans' seventh-place finish over the 197-kilometre course in Tuscany on Saturday.

“He is obviously in good condition and you don’t finish in the top 10 unless you’re are ready to go.”

"He won Tirreno in 2011, so I think he is ready for a fight."

"Quintana was good in San Luis, Rodríguez has had a more relaxed start to the season, and Urán was good in Oman as well," said Porte, who himself finished second at Ruta del Sol in February.

"As much as I am not getting very caught up in it you do keep an eye on the results to see who's where.

Usually extremely reluctant to call his condition at least optimal, Porte boldly expressed satisfaction with his current form.

"I came back to Europe to do Ruta Del Sol which is a very hard race and I've had a very hard two weeks of training and that’s all I can do. I'm very happy with my form."