Richie Porte: I have to be happy with second overall

Richie Porte of BMC Racing Team won the Tour Down Under stage to Willunga Hill for the fifth consecutive time on Saturday, but considered it to be one the most difficult

The Australian, who crashed badly in the 2017 Tour de France, confirmed his return in an impressive manner. Attacking at just under two kilometers from the finish following preparing work by Danilo Wyss and Rohan Dennis, the defending Tour Down Under champion managed to stay ahead of the others to take the win.

"I tell you what, that was the hardest one to win so far," he said shortly after taking the victory. 

"I think it was such a hard lead in there at the bottom when Education First put it into the gutter. I felt great and the guys looked after me all day but it hurt so much. We talked about it this morning with guys like Simon Gerrans. He has been a fantastic addition to our team.

"I couldn't look back, I just had to go. Of course, you look back a bit and I could see that Jay McCarthy (Bora-hansgrohe) was strong to start with. I think this stage is much better for me than it is for him so I just stuck in. I must admit with 300 meters to go, I almost stopped. Maybe I went a bit too hard."

The win wasn't quite enough for Porte to take the overall lead as Daryl Impey of Mitchelton-Scott finished second at eight seconds, enough to equal Porte's overall time. Impey's previous stage result allowed the South African to put on the ochre jersey.

"Realistically, I don’t really have a chance to move up. I’m happy with where I am all things considered. I had a tough second half of last year so to be up here and win Willunga for a fifth time in a row, I have to say I’m happy. But of course, I would have loved to have won the overall. If I was good enough to win, I would have done it here today on Willunga. Hats off to Daryl. He’s a good mate and a fantastic bike rider. It was up to me today to put more time into him and I wasn’t good enough to quite finish the day off. I’m happy with another stage win. I have to be happy with second.”

Last year winning with the ochre jersey was special but this is up there as one of the most special too."

The win is even more meaningful considering the way Porte crashed out of the Tour de France in July. "It has been a tough time," he affirmed. "It was a nasty crash and it knocked me around but I think I can have the best season and I'm motivated for that. I worked hard back in Tasmania and did some fantastic training so I am super motivated for this season. I just hope come July I can be on top form. I have a fantastic bunch of people around me from my team, my wife, and my family."

VIDEO: 2018 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 5 

2018 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 5 Top 10

1 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 3:42:22 
2 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:08 
3 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 0:00:10 
4 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors   
5 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Sky   
6 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida   
7 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates   
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:14 
9 Jon Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida   
10 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo#

2018 Santos Tour Down Under GC after Stage 5

1 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott 18:02:15 
2 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team   
3 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 00:00:16  
4 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:20 
5 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors   
6 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Sky   
7 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida   
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:24 
9 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo   
10 Jon Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida