As he moves into his own Grand Tour challenge this July, Ben O’Connor (AG2R-Citroën) says he is “inspired” by the victory of fellow Perth-born Australian racer Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) in the Giro d. ‘Italy.
O’Connor is currently taking part in the Critérium du Dauphiné, after a break of just over a month after winning the one-day Tour du Jura race and completing the Tour de Romandie in fifth place overall.
O’Connor finished eighth at last year’s Critérium du Dauphiné, ahead of his big fourth overall result in the Tour de France, and as the 25-year-old told L’Equipe on Sunday, a general victory in a stage racing, which he has not yet achieved, has become one of his great career goals.
“It simply came to our notice then. When I think of another Australian like Richie Porte, he has won races like Paris-Nice, the Dauphiné and the Tour de Romandie in his career, “O’Connor told L’Equipe.” “I wish I had. Maybe it’s harder than getting a podium on a Grand Tour.”
Although Porte is the defending champion (but not present this year) at the Dauphiné, O’Connor said he was also inspired by a much more recent example of success in stage racing, Jai Hindley at the Giro d’Italia .
Like Hindley, O’Connor grew up and gritted his teeth as a cyclist in Perth, Western Australia, and Hindley said earlier this week that he remembered how impressed he had been as a teenager with O ‘Connor and his ability to hit the ground running. although the race started late.
“It’s great for Australian cycling, I think a whole generation of great riders is coming and that can’t stop road sports going back and forth in Australia. Personally, I’m trying to add another brick to the building just like Jai just did.
As for his goals at the Dauphiné, O’Connor says “it’s a very important race for AG2R-Citroën. It’s also my chance to prove myself before the Tour. I know I will be able to have a very strong team that will support me and that is almost new. I can say that what I did at last year’s Tour is being taken seriously and I know that my teammates will run for me without any doubt on their part. “
As for how he will manage the next Tour de France, O’Connor told L’Equipe that he is aware that he will not fly under the radar as in previous years. But he also believes that perhaps he could have done even better last July if he had not had the accidents of the first week that initially left him with his back foot and also with some lost time.
“When I think about what happened last year, the falls and so on, I went back to the race, still in the toughest tough stages,” O’Connor noted. “And I finished fourth even with these setbacks. I just have to imagine what would have happened without them. “