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Porte to leave BMC for Trek-Segafredo

AAP

July 8, 2018 - 4.39pm

Australian Richie Porte is set to leave BMC Racing to lead the Trek-Segafredo team at next year's Tour de France, according to a report.

The 33-year-old Tasmanian, who is currently competing for BMC on the Tour, will join their US rivals on a two-year deal starting in 2019, cyclingnews.com reports.

Porte has enjoyed success with BMC since joining them in 2016, winning the Tour Down Under twice, winning the Tour de Romandie in 2017 and coming fifth in Tour de France in 2016.

A source close to the deal told cyclingnews.com that part of Porte's reasons for leaving BMC Racing was their unsettled future and lack of a sponsor for 2019.

"Porte will have the chance to lead Trek at the Tour in 2019 but also focus on his speciality of week-long races," Cyclingnews added.

The Australian remains BMC Racing's Tour de France hope on Sunday, despite losing time on stage one due to pile ups and then falling further behind with a flat tyre in stage two.