Ben O'Connor: "I’m not only performing better, I’m also on a mental path and have a leadership role"
Cycling
Ben O'Connor rode a breakthrough Tour de France last year, having finished fourth in the overall classification and seeking another strong result this year.
“I’m a year older and more confident because I’ve prepared for the Tour as a clear objective. Last year was a breakthrough, but now it’s clear which direction as a rider I’m aiming for," the Australian said ahead of the race. This year AG2R Citroën Team prepared the lineup thinking of O'Connor, and plan on supporting him thoroughly throughout the three weeks.
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“I’m not only performing better, I’m also on a mental path and have a leadership role. That’s perhaps not something for everyone as people but I’m enjoying it," he explained. “If I didn’t enjoy it, I’d adjust and just target stages in the mountains..."
After having finished third at the Critérium du Dauphiné, ahead of several of the riders he will be directly battling with over the next few weeks, he's shown the confidence and right timing into the race. “The Dauphiné was great. What did I get out of it? Confidence. I more or less found out that I’m not far away from the best in the world. Primož and Jonas Vingegaard are two big favourites for the Tour and the fact that I was able to dangle behind them and be amongst the best of the rest means you're up there fighting."
He will however have to survive a likely chaotic opening week where crashes, mechanicals and splits are likely to occur to much of the peloton. “I just hope to stay safe for three weeks, and then after all the fatigue of the Tour I hope I can be next to them or better," he said.
However with the support of the likes of Oliver Naesen and Stan Dewulf, he should be well guided when racing gets aggressive. "I can only race my best and the objective is the best GC result possible," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Une présentation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Il n’y a plus qu’à. All set during a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ teams presentation. Let’s race now boys! #AG2RCITROËNTEAM #RoulonsAutrement #RideDifferently - © KBLB
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