Vuelta a España chief Ben O’Connor did his finest to place a optimistic spin on his newest time loss to GC rival Primož Roglič on Wednesday, however even the often upbeat Australian couldn’t disguise his disappointment at shedding 37 seconds to the Slovenian and different rivals.
From the foot of the brief however relentlessly steep class 3 Puerto Cruxeiras final within the stage, Roglič’s renewed dedication to punch a gap of some sort in O’Connor’s GC lead was crystal clear, as he put his teammates to boost the tempo earlier than roaring clear.
Just as at Cazorla’s brutally robust remaining ascent on Saturday Enric Mas (Movistar) was, as soon as once more, the one rider capable of shadow the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe racer. But if different GC contenders like Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Mikel Landa (T Rex-QuickStep) have been capable of bridge throughout in a while, by then O’Connor was too far adrift and in injury limitation mode.
While Roglič was significantly aided by teammate Dani Martinez after the Colombian dropped again from the break of the day, the Australian rider additionally acquired the late assist of some teammates like Clément Berthet and Felix Gall. O’Connor saved the tempo excessive in particular person within the closing metres, besides, he nonetheless completed the day with Roglič 37 seconds nearer than he would have preferred within the Vuelta a España GC standings.
“Yes, I anticipated him to do one thing like that assault,” a serious-looking O’Connor instructed reporters later, earlier than including with a rueful smile, “I additionally anticipated myself to have the ability to maintain the wheel, however you’ll be able to’t do the whole lot.”
“I did not need to lose time on any day, so any day I lose time is not the perfect.”
Speaking later he added, “It was exhausting, a bit too exhausting, and I simply wasn’t adequate to carry on excessive. So I’m a bit disillusioned however that is stage – what, 11, 12? – and I’m nonetheless within the crimson jersey.”
Isolated, too, on the climb from his teammates earlier than they returned to his facet on the ultimate a part of the run-in, O’Connor identified that “They have been actually good at Sierra Nevada and yesterday [stage 10], however it’s exhausting to anticipate them to be forward of me each single day. Because in the long run, I’m the one within the crimson jersey so I’m the one which must be following the fellows and the one there on the entrance.”
The time acquire for Roglič, Mas, and the remaining was not the largest within the larger ranges of GC by an extended shot, as New Zealander George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech), current within the early break, regained a fraction over 4 minutes on the Australian and moved up six spots into tenth total.
But whereas O’Connor stated he was not overly involved by Bennett’s significantly improved GC standing, his actual focus stays the group of favourites who’ve as soon as once more closed in on him. His best hole on Roglič was 4:51 after stage 6, however it’s now shrunk to three:16 and 4 mountain levels in fast succession start on Thursday, with a cat.1 summit end on the Manzaneda.
“Friday and Sunday’s levels are way more vital, although,” O’Connor warned. “I’m guessing we’ll have one more ridiculous combat for the breakaway tomorrow [Thursday], however my focus is de facto on Friday and Sunday.”
Yet regardless of the time loss and his disappointment, O’Connor tried to see the brilliant facet of the state of affairs.
“I’m simply aggravated with myself to be honest,” he stated, “however I’ve nonetheless obtained an honest lead and no matter, the strongest man goes to win this race, and if it is me or not – so be it.”
