"It's not a new story" - Ben O'Connor brushes off Giro sickness news as he races on 'instinct' ahead of stage 14
Cycling
This year's Giro d'Italia has seen illness run rampant with several high-profile riders affected. However, Ben O'Connor has brushed off any illness concerns as he revealed that he too had been feeling symptoms in recent stages of the Corsa Rosa.
Jonas Vingegaard, Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari are among the general classification men who have confirmed that they were suffering from some kind of illness in or around last Monday's first rest day, and as the second rest day fast approaches, those still suffering will be found out in a huge Alpine test on stage 14.
But O'Connor believes that sickness is part of the Giro d'Italia. With colder weather, particularly in earlier stages of this edition, making illness more common than in the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana - which are generally ridden in much hotter conditions.
O'Connor claimed he was feeling 'a bit crook' but admitted that he knows he's not the only one dealing with ailments. “I was just under the weather, I felt a bit crook, but I think a lot of guys have been coping and dealing with little illnesses,” O’Connor told Domestique.
O'Connor brushes off sickness news
“I actually don’t think it’s possible to do the Giro and not be sick at some point. I think that that’s just part and parcel of this race, so, yeah, it’s not a new story…”
O'Connor isn't interested in outside noises when it comes to media and speculation over general classification. As far as the Team Jayco-AlUla rider is concerned, he won't get carried away with those around him and will ride his own race - particularly in Saturday's mountains.
“I say this time and time again, but I don’t really care,” he said. “I’m just going to do my own race, do what I see fit, how I see my own chances and how I want to ride each stage and execute that."
O'Connor focused on himself
“I’m not really too bothered with what happens in front or behind me. Obviously, when you get into the mountains then you have to be aware of everything that’s going on, but you just race with your eyes and your instinct and try not to get too carried away with everyone else.”
Saturday's stage to Pila takes the race close to the French border and the Savoie region that O'Connor knows well from racing, but although the Australian isn't familiar with the Italian side of the valley, he thinks the profile of the stage suits him.
He added: “I haven’t raced too much around Aosta, but it’s just kind of like the Italian side of the Savoie, so it should suit me. It’s a stage I like, with long climbs in a big mountain valley.”
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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