Richie Porte extends his Sky contract

Richie Porte 2013

Richie Porte has extended his contract with team Sky for two years and could lead his own Grand Tour team as early as next season Cycling Weekly believes.

It's understood Porte gave had interest from Omega Pharma-Quick Step but has decided to stay at the British-based outfit he transferred to at the end of 2011.

The 28-year-old may have an opportunity to lead the team at the 2014 Giro d'Italia, where Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins is currently leading the team.

Porte was an instrumental figure in Sky's success at the Tour last year helping guide Wiggins to victory and Chris Froome to second overall.

The Australian has raced predominately alongside teammate Froome this season in the lead-up to the Tour but also capitalised on his own opportunities. He won two stages and the overall title at Paris-Nice, took one stage and had a stint in the leader's jersey at Criterium International, where he finished second overall to Froome, and claimed stage five at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

Sky has developed a reputation as Grand Tour specialists, which is in line with Porte's future ambitions, although the British team is not expected to hold on to all it's grand tour riders for next year.

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Simon Richardson
Magazine editor

Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.