"I think there's a fair few regrets there" - Ben O'Connor determined to bounce back with Decathlon as he opens up on final season with Jayco AlUla
Cycling
Ben O'Connor is ready for a fresh start, or perhaps a return to familiar pastures. The Australian climber has officially signed with Decathlon CMA CGM from 2027 after two years with Jayco AlUla.
In an up and down homecoming with the Australian team, O'Connor struggled to find the heights he reached during a four year stint with Decathlon before the move. But as an experienced winner, he still signs off from Jayco with a Tour de France breakaway victory last summer.
At 30-years-old, he quickly pointed out that his career is by no means over as the French team welcome him back on a two-year deal. Opening up on his thoughts on the future, O'Connor is keen to get the ball rolling in a familiar environment.
"My career is not over. I have many journeys still to come. I'm pretty optimistic about cracking on to another challenge next year," O'Connor told Domestique.
Ben O’Connor
O'Connor reflects on his 2026 season
Reflecting on his 2026 season, the Australian believes he never reached top form across the season. Competing well in the Giro d'Italia, he believes that starting the Tour de France soon after didn't work in his favour.
"I think there's a fair few regrets there. Probably on the races that I put myself in and where we lined-up. I think that there's a couple of mistakes there.
"I don't think I ever really hit my stride at all. I probably had one good day out at the Giro on the stage to Blockhaus but I've struggled a bit ever since then. I think starting the Tour was a bit optimistic as well. I kind of dug my grave there. Nowadays, it's really, really hard to get out of it when you do that."
Fastest-ever Tour stage shows training advancements
Over recent seasons, he notes that riders and teams have pushed the envelope further than ever before. With efficient training meaning that riders are often well prepared for races, O'Connor stressed that the line between success and failure is thinner than ever.
His example of the clear up in pace? The 2026 Tour de France. Stage 11 of the race saw the highest-ever average speed of a stage as the winner - Soren Wærenskjold - clocked 50.91 km/h for the day.
"The way training is now, the way we can lock in the intensity and get the most out of training, it means you're treading a finer line now than in the past. You almost need to go a bit more of an old school approach and almost be more cautious,.
"Once you're done, you can't really come back. Also because there certainly aren't any easy races. The Tour was outrageous for some of those breakaways. The fastest stage ever in the Tour was done with a three-man group, a breakaway out front. We almost didn't catch them."
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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