One of Ben O’Connor’s best-ever time trial performances in stage 7 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia time trial would usually have left the Australian feeling deeply glad, however as a substitute, he was left questioning what might need been after a dropped chain halfway via the 40.6km check price the GC contender treasured seconds.
O’Connor’s time trials usually are not his strongest swimsuit, together with his two Grand Tour stage wins to this point each within the mountains. But the person from Perth stormed via Friday’s stage simply seven seconds down on a time trial specialist as achieved as Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and a couple of:07 down on stage winner Tadej Pogačar.
Despite shifting up seventh spots to fourth place within the Giro d’Italia GC standings, 3:33 behind chief Pogačar, and really a lot within the struggle for the rostrum if not the general victory, O’Connor stated he had combined emotions in regards to the day.
“I obtained the chain again on lastly with the assistance of a mechanic, but it surely’s fairly common to lose that point,” O’Connor informed reporters afterwards.
“I believe I did a very good time, my energy was actually good, but it surely’s a type of issues about biking – it likes to throw a curve ball at you.
“Physically it was certainly one of my higher efforts on the TT bike, I’d paced it completely. It’s only a bit shit, I hate it when issues like that occur.”
As for a way a lot time he spent making an attempt to resolve the mechanical, not to mention the added stress and rigidity that such conditions produce, O’Connor stated, “I reckon I misplaced an excellent 30 seconds making an attempt to get the chain on. It’s a little bit of a disgrace, however you’ll be able to all the time do higher.”
The incident occurred at some extent on the time trial route the place there have been roadworks, with luggage of gravel lining the route, and as he put it with attribute Australian directness, “It was a little bit of a shitshow.”
Mechanical or no mechanical, O’Connor’s efficiency towards the clock on the roads of central Italy will possible allow the Australian to place reminiscences of his powerful experience to Oropa final weekend behind him.
On stage 2, O’Connor severely miscalculated his energy on the race’s first summit end, making an attempt to observe Tadej Pogačar’s assault earlier than blowing up and shedding a minute.
It stays to be seen how O’Connor tackles the upcoming summit end at Prati di Tivo on Saturday, or if, ought to Pogačar assault once more, he opts to experience extra inside himself this time.
The Australian’s robust experience can even allow him to take a look at the second time trial of the Giro on stage 14 with far more confidence, and in a Giro with essentially the most kilometres towards the clock since 2009, that’s no small matter.
