"The Giro d’Italia always finds our soft spots" - Ben O'Connor anounced return to Italy with the goal of finishing on the podium
CyclingTuesday, 03 February 2026 at 12:45
The Giro d'Italia has gained a new overall classification contender. Ben O'Connor has announced that he will be racing the Corsa Rosa in May and will be Team Jayco AlUla's leader in the pursuit of a podium position.
“The Giro d’Italia always finds our soft spots. Maybe it’s just the Italian allure, or maybe because it was the Grand Tour I always believed I’d perform well at," O'Connor said in a press release issued by the team. In 2020 he had a breakthrough stage win at the Giro, and in his 2024 return he rode to fourth place, falling ill in the final week of the race but nevertheless finishing close to the best.
"The 2024 Giro and the fourth place overall was a good result, but no one likes finishing off the podium. I’d love to change that in the future and can’t wait to be back there this year.” The goal has been made clear, although in 2025 the Australian struggled to find his level, and only had a Tour de France stage win to show for.
He believe however that after seeing the route of the Grand Tour that lie ahead this season, that Italy was the correct choice. “Having that long crescendo into the final week of big mountains is something that’s always suited my style. And it’s been replicated again for 2026, especially the Dolomiti stage (19, ed.).”
Team trusts O'Connor's experience
O'Connor has already began his season with a full Australian calendar, although a 10th place at the Tour Down Under is the best he's got to show for currently. It is not known where the 30-year old will now resume racing, but we know now that he will be building up towards the Giro.
Team manager Gene Bates has reinstated the Australian team's confidence in him: “Ben has been on the podium in a Grand Tour before. He was fourth at the Giro a few years ago and so he knows what it takes. This year, he’s older and wiser, and we’re really looking forward to supporting him to achieve the best result he can overall at the Giro.
"His season is built around this early goal, he had a strong start in Australia and we’ll be helping him to build over the next months to arrive in Bulgaria in the best shape possible, and with a team ready to assist him over the challenging edition of this year’s Giro," he concluded.
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