Following his spectacular victory in his first race of the season on the Vuelta a Murcia, Australia’s Ben O’Connor will probably be gunning for an prime journey general in his debut participation within the UAE Tour, say his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale group.
O’Connor had by no means gained so early within the season, however in Murcia, the 28-year-old from Perth was capable of drop Classics specialist and breakaway companion Tim Wellens (UAE Workforce Emirates) on the ultimate ascent of the day, the Alto del Cresta del Gallo, and solo dwelling to the end.
O’Connor’s most important aim for the primary half of the season is the Giro d’Italia, however his participation within the Tour de France remains to be “not 100% determined”, group administration mentioned on the Clasica Jaén, which O’Connor was anticipated to start out however needed to miss for last-minute private causes.
Nonetheless, given his present wealthy vein of type and wonderful morale, group directeur sportif Didier Jannel instructed Cyclingnews {that a} crack on the UAE Tour‘s GC might properly grow to be an possibility.
“Ben was delighted by this victory in Murcia, it was essential each him and for the group, he is our chief,” Jannel mentioned. “For a rider who’s gained a giant stage within the Tour and completed on the foot of the ultimate podium [fourth in 2021 – Ed.], it was essential for him to get off to an ideal begin.
“It wasn’t a simple win, the sphere was a really deep one there, and as a confidence-building train for him and the group, this type of victory is admittedly very best. He is had an ideal low season, spending a variety of time at altitude in Sierra Nevada so he will be up there in races like Tirreno-Adriatico and the Giro.”
The primary race of the yr is “all the time a voyage into the unknown,” Jannel mentioned.
“Like all of the groups, we have labored onerous within the coaching camps and so forth, however there are all the time a variety of query marks in your head – I’ve labored onerous, I’ve educated properly, however so have the opposite groups, so how will it work out?
“So sure, it was a little bit of a shock to see Ben was so sturdy so quickly, however a lot the higher. We’re not going to complain. We all know he is put within the groundwork, nevertheless it’s by no means straightforward to win a race, so we’re very glad with each the person and the collective efficiency there.”
O’Connor’s participation within the Tour de France, the place he has spent his final three summers, shouldn’t be 100% determined, Jannel mentioned.
“His focus is on the Giro d’Italia for now. That is the precedence for the second. The Giro is a course he loves, the place he is already gained a stage, and there is the UAE Tour, one other good check for him earlier than Tirreno, then the Tour of the Alps and the Giro.
“The remainder of the season remains to be to be mentioned,” he added. “We’re opting on retaining our concentrate on the races we all know he’ll do as much as Could, after which we’ll see.”
When it comes to the Giro, Jannel says an general bid is feasible, although the route shouldn’t be as mountainous as in current editions, and there are two medium-length time trials.
“He is progressed properly in his time trialling,” Jannel mentioned. “And he is a giant fan of racing on his TT bike, so we wish to go for pretty much as good a consequence on the GC as we are able to get. Fairly other than the mountains, we’re wanting onerous at how we are able to defend him one of the best we are able to on the flat phases.”
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale have commonly shone brightly within the Giro d’Italia. Within the final three editions, the group has racked up stage wins courtesy of Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Andrea Vendrame in addition to the mountains classification for Geoffrey Bouchard.
Domenico Pozzovivo’s sixth place in 2017 is the group’s greatest Giro GC putting in current editions, and the hope is that O’Connor can proceed the group’s custom within the Italian Grand Tour, and maybe enhance on it.
“Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale have an extended historical past of doing properly each within the GCs and phases of Grand Excursions, so we’ll be aiming to construct on that, to do as properly general and combat for a stage win,” Jannel mentioned.
First up on the highway to Could’s Grande Partenza in Piemonte, is the UAE Tour and Jannel confirmed that O’Connor will probably be within the hunt for the GC.
“After all, after all – the course could be very a lot the type he likes, some critical mountain phases and likewise a time trial,” he mentioned. “The wind is all the time an enormous consider UAE as properly, however Ben is admittedly good at getting within the combine with regards to shifting round within the peloton, too.
“So, we’re actually hopeful he’ll have the ability to provide you with an ideal general efficiency there.”
