Richie Porte to leave Team Sky at the end of the season
Last Updated: 13/07/15 10:50am
Richie Porte has confirmed he will leave Team Sky at the end of the season after four years as a domestique on the team.
Porte rode in support of Sir Bradley Wiggins in his successful 2012 Tour de France campaign and was Chris Froome's right-hand man when the Briton claimed back-to-back yellow jerseys for Team Sky in 2013.
The 30-year-old was the lead rider for Team Sky in this year's Giro d'Italia but was forced to abandon the race after suffering crash injuries.
Writing in his column in the Sydney Morning Herald, Porte said: "Yes, it's true, I'm leaving the team. I'm going. But it's important to know that I'm leaving the team on really good terms and I want to finish my fourth year with them on a real high."
Porte refused to say which team he would be joining in 2016. He has been heavily linked with BMC Racing. No transfers can be announced before August 1.
Porte won the Paris-Nice week-long stage race in both 2013 and 2015 for Team Sky, as well as this year's Volta a Catalunya and Giro del Trentino.
Speaking to SBS, Porte added: "I think it's the worst-kept secret in the world. I've won Paris-Nice and Catalunya this year, and had my big opportunity in the Giro, which didn't quite got to plan.
"But I'm ready, I'm in the prime of my career now the next few years, so I need to go and lead a team."
