Ben O’Connor plans to keep overall race lead ‘as far as I can’ at Vuelta a España

A devastatingly powerful, long breakaway by Ben O’Connor in the Vuelta a España produced one of the biggest upsets of recent years, as the Australian pole-vaulted ahead of leading favourite Primoz Roglič on the general classification to seize the overall lead by nearly five minutes.

O’Connor had much to celebrate as he crossed the finish line in the small village of Yunqueras high in the sierras of Málaga in southern Spain. This was his first win in the Vuelta to complete his set of Grand Tour stage wins, his first-ever Grand Tour leader’s jersey and an overall advantage, that after losing time on the Pico Villuercas summit finish, now makes the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale racer a serious contender for overall victory.