‘I’ll hold the lead as long as I can’ – Ben O’Connor remains on top at Vuelta a España

He’s still there. Despite multiple predictions that Ben O’Connor would lose the lead of the Vuelta a España on the horrendously steep Cuitu Negru ascent, the Australian fought tooth and nail to hang on to red for a tenth successive stage. And by the summit of the 18-kilometre monster climb, he remained narrowly on top of the classification.

Able to stay with the other favourites for the tough but more manageable lower slopes of Cuitu Negru, as soon as the GC group hit the ultra-steep final segment of the race, O’Connor was finally dropped by arch-rival Primoz Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) when the Slovenian powered away with teammate Florian Lipowitz.