“We are now racing for the podium” - Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team switch targets after Ben O'Connor finally loses race lead at La Vuelta 2024

For the first time in two weeks, Ben O'Connor will not be in the Red Jersey of race leader on stage 20 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. After a brave fight since taking red on stage 6, the Australian was finally usurped by Primoz Roglic on the final climb of stage 19.

“From our side the team did a great job to protect Ben, who reacted well during a good part of the climb,” reflected Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team's sports director, Cyril Dessel in his post-stage interview after seeing O'Connor come home 1:49 down on Roglic, leaving the Aussie 1:54 down overall after bonus seconds were added. “He had to let go with about 5km to go. He gave up one minute to Mas, and 46 seconds to Carapaz. That gives him a small margin still for the podium.”

After having narrowly missed out on Grand Tour podiums in the past, finishing 4th at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year and 4th at the Tour de France back in 2021, getting himself into the top-3 at this Vuelta a Espana is now the main goal of O'Connor and the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team over the final two stages of the Grand Tour. “We are now racing for the podium,” concludes the team's DS Dessel.

O'Connor himself was still showing fight despite his disappointment after stage 19. “I tried today but I didn’t really do my best work. It comes down to tomorrow and obviously we have Sunday as well,” O’Connor saidn his own post-stage interview. “So still two very important days.”

In the fight for the podium, O'Connor remains 2nd overall at the start of stage 19, 26 seconds clear of 3rd placed Enric Mas and exactly one minute ahead of 4th placed Richard Carapaz. So still all to play for.