"You have to open doors and pathways" - Ben O'Connor uncertain where future lies beyond 2024

Ben O'Connor is in contract year. Whether he will stay with the French team or not is an open question at this time of the season; the Australian climber definitely does not shy away from another transfer.

“You have to open doors and pathways, but in the end, the main thing that brings me happiness is performing to your capacity. If you get everything out of what you desire, then I feel like you're winning the battle. I hate having regret," O'Connor told GCN. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I think you have to be open-minded. I’ve been with the team now for four years, so it’s a decision to say you stay with this institution. Because it really is an institution, it's been around for 30 years.”

O'Connor signed with AG2R into the 2021 season after becoming a Giro d'Italia stage winner. His debut at the Tour de France propelled him into stardom, having won a mountain stage into Tignes and benefiting from that day to then ride into fourth in the overall classification - close to the podium in Paris. Since, he became an absolute leader in the team and often a fully protected rider into Grand Tours.

“I think as a rider I have developed a lot since joining this team, my career has completely taken a different path since being with them," he admits. "I have learned how to be a leader, I've learned to deal with both language barriers and communication issues, being more forceful with your communication and also dealing with different cultures.”

However since 2022 things have not worked out for him. An eighth place at the 2022 Vuelta is the best Grand Tour result to his name. He's had some strong results in an around - such as the podium at last year's Criterium du Dauphiné and this season's victory on debut at the Vuelta a Murcia - but consistency has not always been there. The Giro will be his goal this summer and an interesting change of plans that can work out his way.

“I have learned a lot and you really see how much emotion and passion the French guys have. Compared to most other Anglo-Saxon riders I know, these guys love to ride their bikes even more than we would understand," he concludes. "I love riding my bike and I love being outside in nature, but for them riding a bike is almost another step - life wouldn't revolve if the bike wasn't part of their life. I think that's been a really interesting part of being in this team.”