When Ben O’Connor left the sphere behind on stage 6, he didn’t foresee the sizeable grasp on the maillot rojo and general race lead that he carried into the Vuelta a España’s first relaxation day, and neither did his rivals.
Sitting 3:53 forward of race favorite Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), O’Connor’s margin was thought of a spot left to get “out of hand” on stage 6, however together with his robust defence of the jersey on Sunday’s stage 9 the Australian rider all of the sudden looks as if a serious risk to the general win.
“I do not actually really feel that a lot strain within the purple jersey, to be trustworthy,” O’Connor mentioned in his characteristically laid-back style in his workforce press convention on Monday afternoon.
“It’s form of surprising,” he continued. “I by no means thought of after the nice jersey right here on the Vuelta a España and a few individuals by no means have the prospect to put on a pacesetter’s jersey at a Grand Tour.” “Many GC guys additionally by no means have the prospect. So I’m simply having fun with it and truly simply loving racing from the entrance, understanding they’re main the race and it is as much as different individuals to make the strikes, relatively than myself.”
Those strikes got here arduous on stage 8 when O’Connor suffered on the ascent of Sierra de Cazorla and misplaced a minute to Roglič, with even his teammate Felix Gall leaving him to trip alone in opposition to the savage gradients of the climb.
When requested if he thought Gall ready would have modified the margin, O’Connor dismissed the notion. “He already waited for me on this climb, after which the ultimate six or seven kilometres have been at 10% and it would not have modified something. I used to be already going backwards,” O’Connor mentioned.”I used to be fairly common that day.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor spoke with excessive reward of Gall’s help on stage 9. “I believe yesterday, we have been actually, actually good collectively,” he mentioned. “I believe for a man like him, you’ll be able to management mountain-top finishes rather well. And I believe he may also be an aggressive individual if he must be too within the race.”
The newest race content material, interviews, options, critiques and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
O’Connor’s third-place end forward of Roglič not solely provided a nominal time bonus achieve in his race lead however despatched an announcement that he was able to managing the race from the entrance. Speaking in regards to the stage, O’Connor thought of it an even bigger second by way of his confidence in holding the race lead.
“When I received the stage, I took the jersey, however I by no means had any strain for holding the jersey by that time,” he mentioned. “But then yesterday was a very completely different story, you recognize, and I used to be managing the race, controlling it with the boys and doing a very good job.”
While commentators are more and more contemplating O’Connor a viable race winner, the Australian was extra cautious in his aspirations.
Speaking of a podium spot in Madrid, he mentioned “I’d wish to, however you’ll be able to’t be disillusioned in case you do not deserve it. The individuals who end on podiums, regardless of the place you end on GC is the place you deserve. So if it finally ends up being there, then I’ll be proud.”
O’Connor’s tenure of the purple jersey will likely be bittersweet for Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale, because the race lead marks a excessive level in O’Connor’s profession however in what be the rider’s last race earlier than he joins Jayco-AlUla for the 2025 season.
“I’d say that is for me – that is the spotlight of being with this workforce,” O’Connor mentioned. “It’s been probably the most pleasurable expertise I’ve had while right here, and I’ve had some improbable recollections with the workforce of the Tour and a number of different races all through.
“But for positive, that is the cherry on the cake.”