s in the pros.Taylor was unable to defend her womens lightweight title at the Rio Games, losing a close quarterfinal to

Throughout the Tour de France, Australian professional cyclist Richie Porte will be checking in. Here is his latest entry, as told to ESPN contributor Rupert Guinness:Stage 18: Sallanches to Megève, France - 17km time trialIt was exactly 7.40pm when I walked in through the front door of our hotel in the Alpine town of Megève where the 18th stage of the Tour de France had finished a little more than two hours earlier.Where did the time go on Thursday?Heaven knows, but it reminded me that on the Tour the real finish line of a stage is not so much the white one you cross near the podium, but more so the point at which you check in to your hotel and finally get into your room. My mind was spinning.?The stage itself was a massive occasion in this Tour with so much on the line for so many, in my case as an opportunity some time on the overall classification.?I had prepared for this mountain time trial.While I still finished fourth at 33 seconds to Chris Froome (SKY) who smashed it to win the stage and extend his lead further, I was a little disappointed at first.After a fast start that led to a pleasing ascent of the climb to 10.5km where I was fastest and for that won the Prix Bernard Hinault, I faded a bit towards the end.Still, it was an honour to get the Bernard Hinault award, not only because it is named after such a legend of the sport, but that my ascent to the 10.5km mark showed again that I am climbing well and with the best.I should be in a good place for the two Alpine stages - on Friday and Saturday - to give all I have to fight for a place on the podium alongside Froome.Lets face it, Froome is so strong here - and his team - and it would take a disaster for him to lose the Tour from here. But a real fight is on the cards for second and third spots overall.There is one minute eight seconds separating me in sixth place overall at 5:00 with second placed Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek Segafredo) who is second at 3:52, while 44 seconds lies between me and third pace, currently held by Briton Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange.)You can expect an absolute showdown between as many as five riders for those two spots.But no sooner had we all got the lay of the land after Thursdays time trial, then I somehow became sucked into the vortex of Tour life after a stage that can take valuable time away.The post stage going-ons are a side to the Tour that so many people dont understand.As happy as I was for having got some time on those among the overall classification contenders who had a bad day, I have to say that the time I had to spend near the finish area afterwards was a challenge.?I had not really anticipated it, despite my Tour ambitions.On top of the seemingly endless obligations for the podium ceremony and media interviews, I was also drawn for the anti-doping control for which I could not pee for ages.Finally, I did pee and made it to my hotel - I rode the one kilometre there. But its easy to see how hours suddenly escape you, leaving you behind and chasing time needed for rest.?It does make you think what it would be like to wear the yellow leaders jersey day after day in a Tour as Froome has done since he won stage eight; but then he has got used to it.Now I am in the hotel - showered, fed and resting - I can think about what I want to say on the Tours last two stages that will impact the overall classification for Sundays Paris finale.I still want the podium. Ill fight as hard as I can to try to get it. But its amazing that its going to be decided on two Alpine stages - stage 19 on Friday, 146km from Albertville to Saint Gervais Mont Blanc; and Saturdays stage 20, 146.5km from Megève to Morzine.Taking things day by day seems to be working for me - even after the 1:45 time loss I had on stage two due to a flat tyre and the stage 12 Mont Ventoux debacle when I, Froome and Mollema crashed in to a television motor bike blocked by the crowds with 1.2km to go.That day by day approach is one that Ill be towing right up until we roll out onto the Champs élysées in Paris on Sunday. Wherever I finish, this Tour will have taught me heaps. Hydro Flask Kids Uk . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Hydro Flask Outlet Store . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. http://www.wholesalehydroflaskuk.com/ . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Hydro Flask 21 OZ Uk .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Hydro Flask Cheapest .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Katie Taylor will make her professional boxing debut on Saturday, and the former Olympic champion is determined to leave a lasting legacy in the sport.Irish fighter Taylor dominated the amateur ranks for more than a decade, winning five world and six European titles as well as gold at London 2012.On returning home to the seaside town of Bray following the London Games, Taylor was greeted by more than 20,000 adoring fans.Her bow in the paid ranks comes four months after she turned 30, but age has not tempered her ambition. Indeed, Taylor believes she can have as big an impact on womens boxing as Ronda Rousey has had on female mixed martial arts.Id love to win a world title, unify the belts and try to go up the weights and try to win belts at higher weights too, Taylor, who fights?Karina Kopinska at The SSE Arena in London, said.Id like to do what the likes of Ronda Rousey have done in the UFC and become a big name in professional boxing and raise the profile of the sport.UFC take their female fighters very seriously and they claim equal billing to the men on the shows, thats huge, and thats why a lot of boxers are turning to UFC.Its important to be financially secure when I am finished fightiing as its a short career, but I am not motivated by money.dddddddddddd. I made a good living in the amateurs and now its a new challenge and new goals and thats what is exciting for me.I am going to where I am most passionate about my future and thats in the pros.Taylor was unable to defend her womens lightweight title at the Rio Games, losing a close quarterfinal to Finlands?Mira Potkonen.She has been grateful for the short turnaround between that bout, on Aug. 15, and her pro debut as she bids to raise the profile of womens boxing in the UK and Ireland.I never felt like walking away, I knew that theres still so much more greatness ahead of me, Taylor said. I performed badly at the Olympics but I knew that the best was yet to come.I am a fresh 30-year-old and I feel I have many, many years left in me, so it was a matter of getting past the disappointment and refocusing on the future.Taylor added: [Womens boxing] is?big in the States, Germany, Scandinavia, theres a lot of interest in the sport in these countries and we have to emulate that in Ireland and the UK. ' ' '