Following a disastrous 2014 season, Richie Porte returned to racing stronger than ever, suddenly becoming the most reliable stage racer of the spring and Alberto Contador's biggest rival in the upcoming battle for the pink jersey. The Tasmanian-born rider took convincing victories in the Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya and Giro del Trentino, and he claims to be ready for his slightly postponed debut as the Team Sky leader for the grand tour event.

As a part of negotiations regarding his new contract, Team Sky guaranteed Porte a leadership in one of season's grand tour races. The 30-year old Tasmanian was expected to embrace that role in last year's Giro d'Italia, but lingering health problems forced him not only to withdraw from the event, but to call it a season in early August. Now nothing stands in his way to step up and prove himself as a serious contender in a three-week stage race, with high chances of taking all the spoils in Milan.

"Then when I signed my last contract, Dave Brailsford agreed that I'd get to lead my own team in a Grand Tour. It didn't work out last year but I'm much more mature than I've been and I'm really looking forward to fighting for the pink jersey this year," Porte confirmed in the interview for Cyclingnews.

Team Sky rider kicked off his amateur career in Italy, but has had very few chances to compete in events held on Apennine Peninsula since then. Porte emphasized, though, that returning on Italian roads fills him with good memories.

"I haven't done a lot of racing in Italy as a professional since then but I love going back and racing there. I watched the Giro in Italy during my amateur days. Three days in the pink jersey back then meant so much to me. I got pretty sick when I had it but it's still one of those memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Porte stayed in Italy following his triumph in Giro del Trentino to do reconnaissance of key stages of the upcoming Italian grand tour. In the fight for the pink jersey the Tasmanian will be supported by strong Team Sky squad, this time lacking riders originating from Great Britain.

While Bernhard Eisel, Sebastián Henao, Vasil Kiryienka, Leopold König, Mikel Nieve, Kanstantsin Siutsou, Salvatore Puccio and Elia Viviani has been selected to nurse Porte on his way to Milan, he won't be the only Australian with great chances to shine in the upcoming edition of the Giro. Michael Matthews will return to rivalry after being a revelation of the opening week of last year's Italian three-week event, along with always competitive Simon Gerrans, Michael Rogers and Heinrich Haussler.

"I think it's going to be a great Giro for the Australians," Porte predicts. "Cadel left some big shoes to fill but that's my goal. We've taken different paths so far in our careers but I'd love to go on and win all the different races he did. I've a lot of respect for Cadel."

Even though he is considered the strongest contender to battle Contador for the Giro d'Italia crown, the 30-year old rider is pleased with the fact that the Spaniard and his Tinkoff-Saxo team will have to carry all the pressure.

"Alberto is probably the rider with the most pressure on him," he suggests. "Uran has been second twice, which is an advantage for him, and he also knows how to fight, so he might be the hungriest guy there too. Aru is emerging as a Grand Tour contender and is a talent, while Pozzovivo can never be ignored, even if his form was a little erratic at the Giro del Trentino."

"I've had a fantastic start to season. The one thing about winning is that it's increased my appetite to keep on winning. You have a limited time to be a professional but I think I'm coming into my heyday now and I'm certainly going to make the most of it. Winning the Giro would be a dream come true. We'll see what happens. But I'm confident in everything that I've done building up to it."