“Second only to the Tour de France” – Why Ben O’Connor is putting everything into Tour Down Under

For Ben O’Connor, the Tour Down Under is no longer a gentle way to ease into a season. It is a target in its own right, one that now sits just below the Tour de France in his personal hierarchy.

Speaking in a recent interview with Cyclism’Actu, O’Connor made his position clear. “For Team Jayco AlUla, I think the Santos Tour Down Under is the second most important race of the year after the Tour de France.”

That is not the language of a rider turning up for training miles. It is the language of someone arriving to compete.

After several seasons riding the race with different teams, 2026 will be his first Tour Down Under with Jayco AlUla, the team of his home country. He last rode the event three years ago, when he finished sixth overall and third on the queen stage. This time, the ambition is sharper.

“We’ve put our best eggs in one basket,” he said. The message is simple. Jayco are not spreading their hopes thin. They are committing heavily to winning their home WorldTour race.

The 2026 Tour Down Under is built to punish riders who arrive undercooked. A short opening prologue will create early time gaps, and stages built around Corkscrew Road and Willunga Hill are expected to decide the general classification.

O’Connor already has one stage marked in red. “Stage two will be important with the two climbs of Corkscrew. It’s shaping up to be a very exciting stage and it could change the usual dynamic of this race.”

That is exactly what the organisers appear to be chasing. Recent editions have steadily moved away from being sprinter-friendly processions. Rolling terrain, repeated climbs and technical finishes now reward riders who are sharp from day one.

For O’Connor, that means being ready to fight immediately. “Whether I finish on the podium, fourth or fifth, or tenth… as long as I’m up there fighting with the riders who are trying to win the race, that’s what matters.”

There is also something more personal driving him. Racing in Australia is not just about team plans or early-season form.

“Just winning a stage here in Australia is on the list of things I want to achieve in my career.” It is a simple line, but it carries weight. Not every rider gets to chase big results on home roads in a WorldTour race that opens the global season.

The 2026 Tour Down Under will feature a deep field, with major teams bringing GC leaders, sprinters and new signings. The heat, the short, sharp climbs and the early season uncertainty always create chaos.

Calling it “second only to the Tour de France” is not hype. It is a statement of intent. For O’Connor and for Jayco AlUla, January in Australia is no longer about easing in. It is about going all in.