• Cycling

Porte to miss Giro d'Italia in aid of Tour prep

ESPN staff
April 7, 2014
Richie Porte was integral in Chris Froome's Tour de France win last year © AP
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Richie Porte will not ride in the Giro d'Italia in May, Team Sky has confirmed.

Porte is being primed for the Tour de France, which starts on July 5, after he helped Sir Bradley Wiggins win the yellow jersey in 2012 and Chris Froome last year.

Head of performance Tim Kerrison told the Team Sky website: "He played an invaluable role in our Tour wins in 2012 and 2013 and we want him to do the same this year.

"Richie was always going to ride the Tour de France this year but this now means that he can fully focus on being in the best possible shape without having the added challenge of having to ride the Giro as well."

The Giro begins in Belfast on May 9. Wiggins will compete at the Grand Prix de l'Escaut on Wednesday, the Paris-Roubaix on Sunday and then the Giro del Trentino, which takes place in April.

Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish has pulled out of the Grand Prix de l'Escaut with flu. It is the fourth successive race the Brit has missed.

"I am sad to miss a race that is very close to my heart - my first win as a professional," Cavendish said. With a team built around me, I wouldn't feel right in asking my team-mates to sacrifice themselves if I'm not in condition to perform."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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