Porte has a documented history with piriformis syndrome, a neuromuscular condition, approximately a year ago and actively managed it during the tour he entered following a back of a training block in Tasmania which was also affected. Porte underwent treatment for at the end of 2015 first by Sky and subsequently at new team BMC medical staff.

“I came in a bit injured to be honest,” Porte said according to SBS Radio before the start of the sixth and final stage of the race Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won overall.

The disease may result in leg pain and numbness that comes from the gluteus when the piriformis muscle there spasms and irritates the sciatic nerve.

“I was with Will Clarke on a Thursday ride back in Tassie [Tasmania] and had a cramp. I almost had to be pushed home by him it was that bad,” Porte recalled. “It feels much better now I’ve been doing work on it every day and it’s kind of exciting that maybe I can ride pain free. I have to keep on it with the stretching and regular gym. When I go back to Tassie, I’m always good at riding my bike and going for a swim but I’m not so good at keeping the gym and stretching up. But now I can see the benefits of stretching.”

Porte claimed he was not too troubled by the condition prior to the upcoming Paris-Nice, which is his first key goal of the season. Porte will arrive at his European base in Monaco this week and put a finishing touch on his preparations in the build-up to the event where he may face former Sky teammate Chris Froome in a head-to-head confrontation following years of loyal service as a domestique to the two-time British Tour de France winner.

Porte used the queen stage to Green Mountain in Oman to test his legs but otherwise preserved his energy, clearly having later battles in mind.

“Going into Paris-Nice this year I know I’m not in the condition I was of last year but when you come to a race like this you’re being out-climbed by classics specialists,” he said. “For me, it’s an important thing that three years ago when I first won Paris-Nice I had the same thing (here).

“Taylor Phinney pipped me on the line on the top of Green Mountain, so I’m not too stressed with where my condition is. I get to go home to Monaco and train properly now for two weeks and try and get accustomed to the winter conditions as well.”