If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. After a broadly profitable first week within the Giro d’Italia and together with his notable time trial efficiency as one undoubted spotlight, Ben O’Connor says he has no intention of adjusting his methods within the subsequent six days of the race.
Speaking to Cyclingnews and different media on the primary relaxation day at Naples, an upbeat O’Connor went over his first week intimately and defined his pathway to his present GC place of fourth total, 3:39 behind Tadej Pogačar.
He identified his time trialling has been bettering steadily since halfway via the 2023 season, together with his top-ten efficiency within the Perugia time trial final Friday “the primary likelihood for folks to see that on the large stage.”
While the West Australian was palpably irritated with himself after stage 2, the place he tried to chase down Pogačar on the Oropa summit end, lastly blowing up and shedding a minute, eight days on, O’Connor took a way more constructive spin on that defeat.
“At least I used to be adequate to strive,” O’Connor identified, “I nonetheless loved that second, even when it didn’t repay.”
Overall the primary week of the Giro had gone effectively for O’Connor. Although he identified that it “had been more durable than I anticipated, significantly the dash phases. I’m completely satisfied, there have been a few moments which weren’t excellent, however total we might see we’re prepared for the remainder of the race.”
O’Connor misplaced 2:06 to Pogačar however misplaced near 30 seconds when he dropped his chain. He is 3:39 down on the dominant race chief however is within the battle for the rostrum locations.
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“I’m up there with the opposite 5 on GC, and I see myself as being one of many predominant contenders within the race,” he mentioned with satisfaction and confidence.
“I’m taking it stage by stage, making an attempt to take time preventing for the rostrum in opposition to Dani Martinez and Geraint Thomas. If that ultimately means getting onto the rostrum, that might be the dream. But it’s important to ensure to be at your finest, day in and day trip.”
Like his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale teammates, O’Connor is having fun with a profitable 2024 season. He is more healthy and extra constant, reaping the fullest advantages of that progress on the Giro d’Italia.
He has been working with the identical coach for 4 years, and the 2 have now reached a completely efficient approach of making ready the Australian finest for his challenges and studying precisely the place his limits lie when it comes to coaching load.
“We’ve been placing me on that fringe of fatigue however with out going over it,” O’Connor defined.
The subsequent step ahead is to see how he handles the second week and second half of the Giro d’Italia, beginning with Tuesday’s quick however punchy stage and culminating within the 21-kilometre ascent of Cusano Mutri.
O’Connor mentioned there could be a 50% likelihood for an early break to stay, given the whole stage is barely 140 kilometres lengthy, so it shouldn’t be too onerous for the bunch to regulate.
The massive query is how O’Connor’s improved type and consistency will play out in opposition to the highest GC riders between Naples and Rome. Pogačar might or is probably not beatable, however for now, he stays the last word reference level of the race.
“I’m right here, I’m nonetheless racing, I’ve my aspirations,” O’Connor mentioned. “If Pogi has a nasty day, then he has a nasty day. If he has a superb day, then good for him.
“I’m going to maintain on going with my strategy, and If I can smash it on a stage, then I’ll. And I’ll get via the unhealthy ones simply as finest as I can.”