Ben O'Connor confirmed to lead Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at Giro d'Italia as he looks to battle Pogacar and chase final podium
CyclingTuesday, 30 April 2024 at 11:34
Ben O'Connor had his big breakthrough in 2020, winning a stage of the Giro d'Italia. In 2021 he discovered his talent for contesting Grand Tours and he now finally returns to the Corsa Rosa in 2024 in search of his first Grand Tour podium.
Decathlon AG2R have been having a tremendously strong season so far and they look to continue it at the Giro. Ben O'Connor, second at the UAE Tour and Tour of the Alps this season, comes in as an in-form leader for the race and is a big candidate for the final podium.
He will be well supported in the mountains by the Paret-Peintre brothers. Aurélien won the final stage of the Tour of the Alps and finished fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège whilst Valentin has been having a breakthrough season and was fourth in the Alps just over a week ago.
The mountain block comes in form; they will be further support by Alex Baudin, young classics rider Bastien Tronchon and American Larry Warbasse who sets off for his sixth Giro d'Italia. Andrea Vendrame, who finished second in two stages of the Tour de Romandie this past week and was also second in the points classification, will seek success in the hilly days and possibly some sprints.
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team for Giro d'Italia:
Ben O'Connor
Alex Baudin
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
Valentin Paret-Peintre
Damien Touze
Bastien Tronchon
Andrea Vendrame
Larry Warbasse
Alex Baudin
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
Valentin Paret-Peintre
Damien Touze
Bastien Tronchon
Andrea Vendrame
Larry Warbasse
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- she is so good. even her results from 2025, which were “bad”, would be a career year for most riders. and consider at MSR, for example, her teammate won - perhaps Lotte could have won it. wishing her the best for 2026!mij09-01-2026
- bummer - he was fun to watch and was young. had a lot left in him.mij09-01-2026
- What a fairytale day! Everything fell into place.mhfrvz09-01-2026
- Not sure you can say that someone as talented and successful as him has had bad luck, but between coming along right after the two titans and now this, his is a career cut short. Perhaps he can transition to a different role in the sport, but in any case I wish him well.MidnightRider08-01-2026
- I doubt it. This blows a hole in their ranks.mobk08-01-2026
- For a while there, Eli was the best of the rest in cyclocross behind Mathieu and Wout. It must be tough to be forced to retire early due to medical issues, but good health trumps everything else. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.
santiagobenites08-01-2026 - however you frame it, it seems that they asked more from Ayuso (who obviously did not deliver the needed support) than they are asking from del Torro ... who - according to this quote - just needs to show up and can then ride however he likes.Ketterechts08-01-2026
- I agree that Ayuso was wrong in doing what he did at the tour, but we don't know everything behind the feud unless they all say honestly what went wrong. If he us such a rat and traitor, which it's a bit harsh, then what is to be said about Soler when he was with Movistar and didn't want to ride for Mas? I was disappointed, yes, but realize riders also have goals, and right now, UAE is all about their golden boy.Colnago-fan08-01-2026
- Yes, still sad though, that he's retiring. Anyway, best wishes for his new chaptermhfrvz08-01-2026
- has he been pushed out by the team ?
ChillingCyclist08-01-2026
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🇮🇹 @giroditalia 🗓️ 04 - 26/05 🇦🇺 @ben_oconnor95 🇫🇷 @Alexbaudin73 🇫🇷 @AurelienParetP 🇫🇷 @Valent1_Paret 🇫🇷 @damientouze 🇫🇷 @BastienTronchon 🇮🇹Andrea Vendrame 🇺🇸 @larrywarbasse #DECATHLONAG2RLAMONDIALETEAM - @decathlonitalia @AG2RLAMONDIALE
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