Un travail d'équipe avant de laisser Ben s'exprimer🏔️💪 It all starts with teamwork 💪🏔️ #DECATHLONAG2RLAMONDIALETEAM @lavuelta ©️ Getty
"He’s shown his true colours and Ben O'Connor is a true champion" - Adam Blythe credits Vuelta leader after gritty showing on Covadonga keeps the Red Jersey by 5 seconds
CyclingWednesday, 04 September 2024 at 15:00
Despite having finished 4th at both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in his career, when Ben O'Connor moved into the race lead of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana on stage 6, many assumed it would be a matter of time before he passed it on. Now though, as stage 17 begins, the Aussie is still, just about, in the Red Jersey.
Whilst the likes of Primoz Roglic and Enric Mas have been consistently taking time back on O'Connor with each mountain stage, the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team leader has shown true grit and determination to repeatedly limit his losses and keep himself at the top of the general classification. On stage 16's summit finale atop Lagos de Covadonga, O'Connor was again distanced early but fought bravely all the way up, eventually surviving another day in red by just 5 seconds.
“Unreal, fair play to the bloke. That was a very tough climb and you could see early on that he was just sticking to what he could do," assessed former British national champion Adam Blythe for Eurosport afterwards. “It’s make or break for Ben O’Connor in terms of that red jersey and for the past three mountain stages we’ve been saying ‘this could be the day’. He’s still got another day, possibly two, in that jersey if all things go well. But a phenomenal ride by him and he thoroughly deserves it - just chapeau to him, he’s shown his true colours and he is a true champion by hanging on as he’s done.”
Although all signs point to O'Connor now losing the race lead by the time the Grand Tour finishes in Madrid, the fact he still leads this late on, is a credit to the Australian believes Blythe. “If you’re still in the lead you’re still in the lead,” Blythe added. “He wants to be in that red jersey for as long as he possibly can. Another day in red is all that matters."
“It’s just great for him. He’s given so much to this and you can only take your hat off to him and say well done," Blythe concludes. “A little shake of the head as he crossed the line - yet to see what that is about - but he’s still done a great ride.”
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