Ben O'Connor climbs up Top10 after following Roglic on queen stage of Vuelta a Espana: "I'm happy with my performance"
Cycling
Stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espana saw some serious moves, and within the group of favourites was the positive surprise of Ben O'Connor who was always attempt to the attacks for the red jersey, and climbed in the GC after a strong day.
"We didn't want the gap to get too big, but it was not the plan in advance to take the lead," O'Connor told reporters after the end of the day, justifying the work of AG2R Citroën Team before the final ascent. “We made the race hard today. The boys have trusted me, and now I have them".
In the final ascent he was quick to react to Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel who were off the front in the first meters of the climb, and then settled into a rhythm behind. He did not react to the attacks of Miguel Ángel López and Enric Mas, but instead chose to stay in the wheel of Remco Evenepoel for the second half of the ascent. However, he had the legs to keep up with Roglic as he attacked close to the finish, and into the finish line, hence obtaining a sixth place on the day.
"I'm happy with my performance. Congratulations also to Arensman, he rode a great stage," he concluded. The Australian now sits in ninth place in the overall classification, having been overtaken by stage winner Thymen Arensman, however going through Tao Geoghegan Hart and Wilco Kelderman who struggled and cracked out of the Top10.
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🇪🇸 @lavuelta Ben continue sa progression au général, il est désormais 9ème. @ben_oconnor95 continues to gain ground in GC. He's now 9th. #AG2RCITROËNTEAM - Getty
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