For most professional cyclists, including Ben O’Connor, the Tour de France is the pinnacle of racing. It’s the most important event on the calendar, with the most attention, the highest accolades, the biggest crowds and all the pressure to match it. But in 2024, it isn’t where the Australian is hoping to succeed.
After two “average” years at the French Grand Tour, as he describes them, where crashes, illness, and a run of bad luck saw him not match his pre-Tour performance level, it’s no surprise to see the Australian look for a change.
In December he told Cyclingnews that he would “love to do the Giro” but understood an expectation to race the Tour de France comes with riding on a French WorldTour team. Their best riders often have to ride the Tour – which is a blessing itself – but O’Connor’s request was respected by the team and it’s Italy in May where his ambitions lie.
“It was me and the team choosing together. Obviously, the Tour is a huge thing for this team, but I’ve enjoyed taking that chance to try something new,” said O’Connor to Cyclingnews ahead of the UAE Tour.
“I’m glad the team was keen on the idea as I think it was about time to change my Grand Tour plans. Sometimes the same-same doesn’t always work out and It’s a Giro that suits me, so I can only just be excited.”
Illness at the 2023 Tour de France saw him far from his best and his GC bid ended almost as soon as it started. The year before it was a torn glute muscle that ruined his ability to match his fourth-place overall and stage-winning form from his debut at the Tour de France.
“It’s not really on my list of wanted options,” said O’Connor from Abu Dhabi.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t mind focusing on other things. But if I had to do the tour, it’s not a bad thing. It’s still the biggest, most spectacular race in general and the most well-known – it’s always a pretty crazy experience.
“I just feel like the last two years have been pretty average. Well, last year was both good and bad. I think I wouldn’t mind just separating myself from that and doing something else.”
The Giro d’Italia is the something else O’Connor is taking on in 2024. He is returning to the race for the first time since 2020 where he took his maiden Grand Tour victory atop Madonna di Campiglio while riding for NTT – a win which secured his move to AG2R La Mondiale later that year.
“For that win, it was about relief after a pretty average two years,” O’Connor said.
“2019 was terrible and in 2020 I did actually win at the start…
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