"Ben O'Connor is back home" - Australian climber returns to Decathlon CMA CGM as he signs two-year deal
Cycling
Decathlon CMA CGM have brought Ben O'Connor "home" as the Australian climber re-joins the team on a two-year deal. The transfer sees him come back to the French team after two seasons at Team Jayco AlUla.
The 30-year-old rode with the team from 2021 to 2024, finishing fourth at the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, as well as second place at the Vuelta a Espana in a successful few seasons with the team.
At Australian team Jayco AlUla, O'Connor's biggest moment came at the 2025 Tour de France when he won stage 18 from a stellar breakaway that included Primoz Roglic, Einer Rubio and Felix Gall.
O'Connor's arrival coincides with the exit of Gall, who joins Lidl-Trek after podium finishes in the Giro and Vuelta. While Paul Seixas' rise has seen him become the Tour de France leader, O'Connor's arrival bolsters the French team's leadership options at other races, while also providing a stellar support option for the 20-year-old in other races.
"Ben O'Connor is back home"
In a short announcement, the team said: "Ben O'Connor is back home! He left his mark on the team between 2021 and 2024, with a stage win at the Tour de France in 2021 and another at the Vuelta in 2024, where he also finished 2nd overall. Ben has signed through 2028. Welcome back, Ben."
It was reported in the summer that O'Connor was in discussions for a return to Decathlon and an end to his time with the Australian team after he moved home to become the Grand Tour leader of his country's leading WorldTour team.
O'connor has won stages at all three of cycling's Grand Tours. His first came at the 2020 Giro d'Italia when part of NTT Pro Cycling. After joining Decathlon, he took a dominant breakaway stage win at the Tour de France - winning by over five minutes on the rest of the field in Tignes.
Similarly, he took a Vuelta a Espana breakaway victory of over four minutes, leading to riding into red jersey on the way to his second place. Tour success in 2025 also came on the iconic slopes of Col de la Loze, marking his fourth Grand Tour victory.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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