“It’s some good company" - Ben O'Connor joins Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel on podium of World Championships in Zurich

Ben O'Connor has had himself a career-defining few months. After a breakthrough 2nd overall at the Vuelta a Espana, the Australian backed up his Grand Tour brilliance with a stunning silver medal in the men's elite road race at the 2024 World Championships in Zurich.

“It’s some good company,” O’Connor reflected afterwards, noting his illustrious podium companions, race winner Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. “I’ve done well in races as well this year, so, I guess it’s a fitting podium and I’m just really, really proud, to be honest. I didn’t really expect that today. Credit to the boys to kind of motivate me because I really didn’t feel super good for the first couple of laps. A little pep talk to set your mind to it, and I just had really good timing in the end to come away with the second.”

Although Pogacar sealed his Rainbow Jersey triumph by attacking 100km out, O'Connor secured his silver medal by jumping his rival in the chase with a late move prior to the final sprint. “I wanted to be at the back,” O’Connor said about his attack. “I wanted to slip through in the middle because as soon as you come from the side everyone can see you. It’s just how bike racing works – tactics, being smart, I don’t really know what you can put it down to – but I found a great moment. As soon as you get a jump like that, you have to commit to chase it down.”

With his second placed finish, O'Connor joins a who's who of Australian men's cycling Michael Matthews, Simon Gerrans, Matthew Goss and Robbie McEwen as world championship silver medallists, with only Cadel Evans able to bag the big victory. “I’m a very, very happy man,” O’Connor concludes. “I didn’t win, he’s [Pogacar ed.] got the rainbow jersey. But, for my own personal sake it’s a really, really top world-class one-day race result. I haven’t really done a ton in one-day races, so to get a second here in the World Champs, the biggest of them all, it’s a pretty sweet feeling.”