In the season full of unexpected twists of action, Richie Porte suddenly found himself a Team Sky Tour de France leader after defending champion Chris Froome crashed out of competition, and according to his team mates the situation instantly unleashed the full potential of the 29-year old Tasmanian.

Treated as Team Sky’s second protected rider in the French three-week event, Geraint Thomas revealed that Porte immediately stepped up as squad’s Tour de France captain and was truly impressed by his aggressive attitude as well as leadership skills.

“It is not like overly aggressive,” teammate Geraint Thomas told VeloNews. “It’s not like he is threatening to kill someone’s kids or something. It’s just that real gutsy like … I guess the Tassie [Tasmanian] in him, just fighting for that wheel.”

“Without swearing I don’t think I can,” Thomas said when asked about Porte’s aggressiveness. “Especially, as you come over the top of a climb, everyone is fighting to be at the font for the descent, he lets people know he is there.

“He shouts, he leans on them a bit, he gives them a bit of aggro. It’s good to see. It’s good to see that fight. You really know he wants it.”

“And he has stepped up. He is suddenly even more aggressive, if that is possible for him,” Thomas continued. “He is like, ‘C’mon, let’s do it.’ And he is always fighting for that position. He doesn’t let your wheel go if you are helping him move up or whatever. He gets up a few riders and lets them know he is there. That’s kind of what you want. You want that aggression where he gives everything.”

With Porte and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) being currently regarded as Vincenzo Nibali’s (Astana) closest rivals in a fight for the Tour de France title, Team Sky faces a chance to win the French grand tour three times in a row with three different leaders. By this occasion, Thomas compared personalities of two Britons and Australian, revealing that they do not have much in common in terms of both attitude and behavior.

“Brad’s more … quieter. He doesn’t say a lot. You are not quite sure what he is thinking sometimes,” Thomas added. “‘Froomey’ is more sort of, ‘Right boys, this is what I want today.’ And Richie is aggressive and he really fights. That’s all you want.”