🇪🇸@lavuelta Vous avez été grands les gars. Ben termine avec les favoris et reste 2ème au général. True fighters. Ben finishes with the leaders and is still 2nd overall. #DECATHLONAG2RLAMONDIALETEAM - © KBLB
"I’m very happy, but I still have to do a good time trial" - Ben O'Connor 'proud' and set for first ever Grand Tour podium finish at 2024 Vuelta a Espana
CyclingSunday, 08 September 2024 at 10:31
After another gritty and determined performance on the final climb of stage 20 at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, Ben O'Connor retains his 2nd overall heading into the final stage individual time trial in Madrid.
“I’m proud,” a smiling O’Connor reflected in his post-stage interview afterwards with Eurosport, full of the praise for the work done in his service by the rest of the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team. “I have to thank my teammates for the last 20 days. They were always there for me. I’m very happy, but I still have to do a good time trial tomorrow.”
With 4th placed Richard Carapaz just under a minute down on O'Connor, the Australian needs one more solid performance to bank himself a first ever Grand Tour podium finish. “I mainly rode smarter today. The power was always there, but I let the red jersey drive me crazy. It's nice that I was able to race in the right way today," the Aussie concludes. "I'm definitely confident for the time trial, but now I have to recover well and then deliver the best possible time trial.”
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Results | Stage 20 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana:
| 1 | Dunbar Edward | Team Jayco-AlUla | 180 | 04:38:37 |
| 2 | Mas Enric | Movistar Team | 130 | + 07 |
| 3 | Roglic Primoz | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 95 | + 10 |
| 4 | Carapaz Richard | EF Education-EasyPost | 80 | + 12 |
| 5 | Berrade Urko | Equipo Kern Pharma | 60 | + 14 |
| 6 | O'Connor Ben | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 45 | + 14 |
| 7 | Gaudu David | Groupama-FDJ | 40 | + 21 |
| 8 | Landa Mikel | Soudal Quick-Step | 35 | + 23 |
| 9 | Lipowitz Florian | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 30 | + 37 |
| 10 | Skjelmose Mattias | Lidl-Trek | 25 | + 37 |
| 11 | Gall Felix | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 20 | + 39 |
| 12 | Sivakov Pavel | UAE Team Emirates | 15 | + 01:23 |
| 13 | Yates Adam | UAE Team Emirates | 10 | + 02:28 |
| 14 | Rodriguez Cristian | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | 5 | + 02:34 |
| 15 | Rubio Einer | Movistar Team | 2 | + 02:34 |
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