Australian basic classification contender Ben O’Connor is ready to place his concentrate on the Tour de France for subsequent season as he joins Jayco-AlUla, in response to workforce boss Matt White.
O’Connor’s race programme for 2025 is already taking form, and he may goal a number of one-day races resembling Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Il Lombardia.
The 28-year-old is making the change to the Australian workforce after a profitable season for Decathlon-AG2R la Mondiale, during which he completed second at La Vuelta a España and World Championships Street Race and likewise fourth total on the Giro d’Italia.
“He’ll construct again from the Tour de France, and that race would be the primary goal for the summer season,” White informed Daniel Benson’s Biking Substack.
“There’ll in all probability be a reasonably conventional build-up from February and the remainder of the spring, after which he’ll have a relaxation and build-up for the Tour. After which we’d even see him backing up on the Vuelta on the finish of the season,” he added.
Till now, O’Connor has been seen primarily as a rider for stage races, notably the Grand Excursions given his earlier success. This 12 months, he additionally confirmed potential for one-day occasions via his wonderful efficiency to come back runner-up to Tadej Pogačar on the UCI Street World Championships in Zürich.
“His coach thought he ought to focus extra on one-day races as a result of he put so little into it…so he will likely be pencilled-in for just a few one-day races subsequent 12 months. For instance Liege. It’s a race that fits his traits. Liege, Lombardia they give the impression of being good for him,”
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O’Connor’s wonderful performances this 12 months eventuated in him ending fourth within the ultimate UCI particular person rankings. White is worked up to have a rider of his calibre on board and hopes that the boldness gained in 2024 will push him on to even higher issues in 2025.
“Ben has had an unbelievable 12 months and was one of the vital constant riders on the planet once you take a look at his season breakdown…In virtually each race he did, he was on the rostrum. It’s an thrilling time for us and the primary time we’ve had an Australian GC chief. We’ve had Aussie winners with [Simon] Gerrans, [Caleb] Ewan and [Michael] Matthews, however no GC chief.”
“He’s been capable of put the package deal collectively extra persistently. He’s all the time proven flashes of brilliance all through his profession and he’s simply at a stage now the place he’s been capable of put it collectively for giant stretches.”
“For Ben going into subsequent 12 months, the boldness that he’s gained this 12 months will solely be an actual profit. I do know he’s excited to affix an Australian workforce and lead from the entrance,” White added.
Workforce planning for 2025 is but to be fully finalised at Jayco-AlUla, however the framework for his or her 2025 Grand Tour groups is already in place and will likely be confirmed over the approaching weeks.
O’Connor is ready to co-lead the Tour with one among Jayco-AlUla’s sprinters, whereas the workforce may also take intention on the Normal Classification within the Giro d’Italia.
“We’ll run the identical mannequin that we’ve had up to now in that we’ll be taking a sprinter to the Tour and Ben. That’s the template we’ve had with Simon [Yates] and Dylan [Groenewegen]. We’ve received just a few different guys placing their hand up for the Tour, like Eddie [Dunbar], and Mauro [Schmid], so we’ve received a great group,” White stated.
“The satan will likely be within the element in terms of the route for the Giro. We’ll have somebody using GC there. In the mean time we’re considering possibly Chris Harper for GC. It’s a race that fits his traits however we’re not going there to win. We’re going there for a prime GC end result, whether or not that’s prime eight or one thing round there.”
