Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) hoped to complete on the ultimate Tirreno-Adriatico podium however fifth place, 2:24 down on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was one other affirmation of his consistency in 2024 as he builds in the direction of the Giro d’Italia.
The Western Australian can be in a contract yr and decided to take management of his personal future be it at Decathlon AG2R or elsewhere. He has additionally learnt from the disappointments of 2023.
O’Connor was simply 32 seconds down on fellow Australian Jai Hindley and third place total and was at all times a part of the choose group of climbers who fought the placings behind Vingegaard.
“It was unbelievable what Jonas did yesterday. I did the most effective I might, I attempted to observe for some time however it was a ineffective try,” O’Connor informed Cyclingnews.
“Right this moment I rode desirous about the rostrum however it didn’t work out.”
O’Connor didn’t experience the Tour Down Below this yr however has already raced for twenty-four days, as he front-loads his season to make sure he’s prepared for the Giro d’Italia.
He received the Vuelta Ciclista a la Area de Murcia one-day race on his season debut after which received the stage to Jabel Jais on the UAE Tour, simply lacking out on total victory to Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny).
Tirreno-Adriatico was a last purpose earlier than he takes a break and begins his last preparation for the Corsa Rosa. He returns to the Giro d’Italia for the primary time since 2020, the place he took his maiden Grand Tour victory at Madonna di Campiglio, securing his transfer to AG2R La Mondiale for 2021.
“In case you goal the Giro, it’s important to be good from the beginning of the season. I feel the one one that can do a gradual construct is Geraint Thomas, everybody else tries to be good from the phrase go,” the Australian defined.
“I’m not doing plenty of races however I wish to do properly in each race I do. It’s essential to carry out and to be at my stage.”
“If I am wholesome I feel I can win races and constantly be in that prime 5 in races like Tirreno-Adriatico. If I solely peak for the Giro, I’m going to overlook out on alternatives and there’s additionally plenty of danger to a gradual construct. If I crash out of the Giro on stage 2, my race will be over and I’d have wasted half a season. I feel it’s potential to carry good for all yr after which hope it peaks throughout a Grand Tour. That’s my plan.”
O’Connor’s contract with Decathlon AG2R ends this yr. He received a mountain stage to Tignes, completed fourth total within the 2021 Tour de France and have become the logical Grand Tour chief for the French squad. Nevertheless a torn glute muscle wrecked his 2022 Tour and a lot of his season, his struggling and strain from the workforce to experience on proven in each element in an episode of the Netflix documentary.
Final yr O’Connor was third on the Criterium du Dauphine however then suffered on the Tour as soon as once more. Teammate Felix Gall was extra constant and shortly turned the French workforce’s protected chief and completed eighth total. Gall has a contract with Decathlon AG2R till the tip of 2026, whereas O’Connor overtly admits he’s available on the market for 2025.
The 28-year-old from Western Australia appears able to create a brand new chapter in his profession.
“It’s my life and I’ve to decide on what course I wish to take it,” O’Connor informed Cyclingnews.
“It’s been superb at Decathlon AG2R and I’ll proceed right here if I wish to. If not, I’ll go someplace else. That’s how life and professional biking rolls.”
O’Connor doesn’t need his profession and his 2023 season to be judged by way of a single Tour de France optic.
“I didn’t have a shit Tour de France, I truly obtained a few third locations which might have been wins. The Tour de France can provide a distorted impression of a rider’s season. I don’t suppose my 2023 as a complete was that dangerous,” he stated.
“Final yr I used to be additionally preventing for the win on the Tour Down Below and I used to be third total on the Criterium du Dauphine, so I used to be nonetheless good however simply not at my greatest in the course of the Tour de France.”
He has tried to study from his 2023 season.
“Some issues went fallacious in 2023 and I feel we have mounted them already and so I’m performing properly,” he stated.
“Final yr I pushed it an excessive amount of. I went to altitude after racing in Australia and it was a bit an excessive amount of. Maybe extra racing after which a relaxation, then altitude would have been a greater combine.”
“It’s additionally about managing your well being. If you push the boundaries in coaching, some individuals deal with it higher than others. Everybody has to search out the tipping level of their fatigue and restoration and perceive what they should do to take care of their regular bodily well being.”
“Being a profitable professional experience is about how you set all of the items collectively, slightly than simply every particular person half. It’s an enormous jigsaw puzzle.”
