Vuelta a España humble pie – Ben O’Connor makes his rivals and critics eat a slice of humility before week three showdown

Seven days ago the Vuelta a España was shocked by the excellence of Ben O’Connor and the error of judgement of every other GC contender and their respective teams that allowed the Australian to take an almost four minute lead into the first rest day. 

Yet with so many summit finishes remaining, the indications were that O’Connor would gracefully slip down the standings and by the second rest day a more normal hierarchy would be re-established.