Chris Froome and Richie Porte
Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain (L) talks with his team mate Richie Porte of Australia as they cycle during a team training session in Zeist, Netherlands, July 2, 2015. The 2015 Tour de France cycling race will start in Utrecht, on Saturday July 4. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Australian cyclist Richie Porte has declared his intention to leave Team Sky after Tour de France. However, Porte will focus on helping 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome first before leaving to become a team leader himself.

The 30-year-old confirmed his plans to leave the British super team following Tour de France’s 28 kilometre team time trial from Vannes to Plumelec at the weekend according to the reports of IOL.co.za. Porte is in the final year of his contract with Team Sky and there has long been speculations that the two-time Paris-Nice race winner wanted out saying that he is in the “optimal period” of his career and would really want to regularly lead a team, although he has not yet announced which team he will join.

Porte, who has been contributing to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, wrote that it was true that he is leaving Team Sky and is in really good terms with team. He also added that he wants to end his last year with Froome on a high note. Porte is convinced that his transparency about his future goals gives Sky the focus on the ongoing Tour.

“I want to absolutely bust myself to not just help my good mate Chris Froome win a second Tour, but to also to repay Team Sky for the opportunities they have given me. If anything, by confirming my departure from Team Sky will make me do my job even better,” Porte said as per Sydney Morning Herald.

After four years as a key domestique for England’s Froome at Sky, Porte will be one of the biggest names in this year’s transfer market, having been linked to BMC and already drew interests from Etixx-Quickstep and Orica-GreenEDGE. Porte admitted he has to take his opportunities, but guaranteed he is “100 percent” in Froome’s side at the Tour adding that they have been good friends with the Briton. He also said that aside from helping Froome, he also wants to “respect the bond” between the riders and staff in Team Sky.

“When I joined Team Sky they put forward a terrific program designed towards me working to the chance of one day leading the team in a grand tour. That journey has exposed me to experiences that will remain lifelong highs for the rest of my life,” He added.

Porte was the leader for Team Sky in Giro d’Italia two months ago. However, his race fell apart following a controversial two-minute penalty for accepting a replacement wheel from Orica-GreenEDGE rider Simon Clarke. He was eventually forced to quit the race after suffering crash injuries.

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