Ben O'Connor confirmed to lead Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at Giro d'Italia as he looks to battle Pogacar and chase final podium
Cycling
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.
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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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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
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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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