Richie Porte knows that he wont get to lead Team Sky at the Tour de France while Chris Froome is on the team, but he says he is confident he will lead the team at the Giro d’Italia in a recent interview with Cyclingnews, illustrating his return to form with a fantastic win in the Australian TT Championships yesterday.

"I’m really happy. I have one more year there [at Sky]. That’s not to say I’m going to stay there the rest of my career. But at the moment the support they’ve given me and the support they give all their riders is the best of any team. There are so many guys who want to come to the team. The grass isn’t always greener [on the other side]."

Porte was due to lead the Giro team last year, but illness robbed him of his chance and wrecked his 2014 season, where his only notable results came in January and February. His 2015 Giro build up begins with his Nationals before riding the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Road Race.

The 29 year old, who is in his last year at Sky, is confident that while it hasn’t be confirmed, he will lead the Giro team, even if he hasn’t spoke to team manager Dave Brailsford yet.

“Not with Dave, but I would say it is going to happen. [His confidence is based] more from talking to Tim. He wants to see a healthy me … [and see what he can do]."

"I have been training since November. I haven't missed a day of training," Porte said. "I've been getting everything that I need to do, sticking to Tim Kerrison's program. It's a new thing for me. I always like to tag a bit extra on. It's been great training."