2016 was a very special year for Richie Porte. In his first season with BMC, the Tasmanian was hampered by bad luck and almost never managed to do a race without facing some kind of setback. Now he hopes to change things in 2017.

After several years at Sky, Richie Porte moved to BMC to get the chance as a team leader at the Tour de France. After a spring marred by several health issues – and several impressive results in one-week stage races – he went into the Tour de France as one of the big favourites. However, a mechanical in stage 2 and the famous Ventoux incident cost him time and he had to settle for fifth. Later he crashed out of the Olympics and had to end his season early with a broken collarbone.

Now he hopes for more luck in 2017.

“I think I've had enough bad luck this season,” ,” he told AS in an interview. “I was always in front but I suffered some problems along the way. But this has only given me more desire to give everything next year, because I know I can be up there on the podium.

“I came to BMC to have my own chance in the grand tours and I cannot help feeling a little disappointed to look back this year.

“Of course, I still have time and I think the next three years will be my best years. I go to a race like the Tour to fight for the podium, but why not go for the big win?”

The most significant incident during the Tour was when he rode straight into a motorbike at a time when he was about to gain time on most of his rivals.

”I think it's important to think about it again and do it in a calm manner. It was not the fault of the organizers, but sometimes we need is to have a little more space. Preferably, the crash had not happened, but I cannot do anything to change it,” he said.

Porte is a former domestique of Chris Froome and he doesn’t hesitate when asked to select the best rider in the peloton.

”I would say Froome. I think it's pretty obvious. He is the strongest on the scene and the best of this generation,” he responds.

Porte has always focused on the Tour or the Giro but has only done one Vuelta in 2012.

“I love racing in Spain. I have done this year's Volta a Catalunya, but the program of the season was very tight. In another year I would love to do the Vuelta, but it depends on the calendars,” he said.

With an unfortunate 2016 season, Porte has no doubt about what he hopes for in 2017.

”My wish is to have a little more luck. I do not know how to do that, I do not know how to fight against bad luck, but I will try.”

Porte is expected to start his season at the Australian National Championships followed by the Tour Down Under.