Ben O'Connor: Baby face becomes conqueror

[Bolder]

Hindley finished 2nd in a mirage race and has done nothing else riding for GC. He's terribly over-rated on the basis of one fluke result - O'Connor should have got a top 10 in the 2018 Giro and has slowly improved his capabilities riding for GC in one week stage races but has not yet reached Haig's level, though this could happen in the future.

I mostly agree although Hindley also had a great TdU. I'm not sure what's going on with him this year, think he crashed or was hurt in or before the Giro (too lazy to check) but I'm not quite ready to call him overrated on the basis of one great and one not good year.

I'd still label all 3 with the "potential" tag bc only Hindley has actually had an absolute top level result, even if the Giro field was weak he still went out and did it...

 

[42x16ss]

Hindley finished 2nd in a mirage race and has done nothing else riding for GC. He's terribly over-rated on the basis of one fluke result - O'Connor should have got a top 10 in the 2018 Giro and has slowly improved his capabilities riding for GC in one week stage races but has not yet reached Haig's level, though this could happen in the future.

Both have shown more than Haig in GTs. Haig is a very good rider, but O'Connor and Hindley are both better.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Really enjoyed his blog entry for the last week, his suffering on Ventoux ("I hate Mont Ventoux ") which he attributes to the heat getting to him, and his pride at being in the final shakeup with the top 5 or 6 gc guys on Sunday.

Ben O'Connor Tour de France blog: I hate Mont Ventoux

Australian explains his hate-hate relationship with the Giant of Provence

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[yaco]

Both have shown more than Haig in GTs. Haig is a very good rider, but O'Connor and Hindley are both better.

The TDF is the first time Haig has ridden GC at a Grand Tour and he crashed out - So let Haig actually finish a GT.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Hindley finished 2nd in a mirage race and has done nothing else riding for GC. He's terribly over-rated on the basis of one fluke result - O'Connor should have got a top 10 in the 2018 Giro and has slowly improved his capabilities riding for GC in one week stage races but has not yet reached Haig's level, though this could happen in the future.

Not sure if you can fluke a result that takes place over such a long period as three weeks.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Hindley had illness in the early season then he was out climbing Bardet in Tour of the Alps before his crash and then he got ill again at the Giro.

 

[yaco]

Not sure if you can fluke a result that takes place over such a long period as three weeks.

It was a mirage race - I doubt the top 3 in the Giro will ever podium a GT in the future.

 

[Valv.Piti]

It was a mirage race - I doubt the top 3 in the Giro will ever podium a GT in the future.

Agree, Tao is terribly overrated as well.

 

[42x16ss]

It was a mirage race - I doubt the top 3 in the Giro will ever podium a GT in the future.

Yet Keldermann is less than a minute off second...

 

[yaco]

Yet Keldermann is less than a minute off second...

Kelderman rode to his true level at the Giro, and is doing likewise at the TDF - Will probably finish around 6th.

 

[Bolder]

Kelderman rode to his true level at the Giro, and is doing likewise at the TDF - Will probably finish around 6th.

By that logic Tao and Hindley would be comfortably top 10 on GT right now. I'm still not ready to pass final judgment on all 3, but O'Connor is looking the best right now. He doesn't seem to have any quit in him.

 

[Cookster15]

Gutsy ride today that did his reputation no harm. Kudos.

 

[yaco]

By that logic Tao and Hindley would be comfortably top 10 on GT right now. I'm still not ready to pass final judgment on all 3, but O'Connor is looking the best right now. He doesn't seem to have any quit in him.

I posted at the beginning of the year that I doubted Tao was good enough to be in the INEOS TDF squad - And he has struggled !

You are misrepresenting my post about the 2020 Giro - It was a mirage because TGH and Hindley performed well above their level which has been reflected in their 2021 results while Kelderman rode to his level in the 2020 Giro - You do have fluke results in cycling and other sports - Anyway, I'm more confident about O'Connor translating his results into future GT's.

 

[JosefK]

A final placing in the top 5 at this TDF (2021) is looking very possible. Good signs for future GC efforts.

 

[staubsauger]

I wouldn't bet on Kelderman riding a lousy TT again. He probably needs to gain more time on the Dutchman tomorrow!

 

[movingtarget]

O'Connor probably needs a few more seconds but can't be disappointed with his first Tour. i'm 50/50 whether he stays in the top five after the TT maybe 40/60. But the last TT often comes down to fatigue more than TT talent so he still has a chance.

 

[Cookster15]

O'Connor probably needs a few more seconds but can't be disappointed with his first Tour. i'm 50/50 whether he stays in the top five after the TT maybe 40/60. But the last TT often comes down to fatigue more than TT talent so he still has a chance.

O'Connor now 4th on GC since Uran cracked today. Finished in same time as Kelderman. But he has only 32 seconds on Kelderman not sure if that enough to hold off in the TT. We will see.

 

[SafeBet]

BTW why do so many people spell it O'Conner?
Is it an Irish thing?

 

[Potomac]

Very impressive finish.

 

[Pinot's goat]

He used the time gifted to him very well and this is only his first effort for GC anyway, next time he will probably finish lower down if even if he has stronger performances out of the GC group.

 

[yaco]

O'Connor lost 2+ minutes because of the crashes in stage 1 and 3 - Except for the Breakaway stage win and the Mt Ventoux stage he was always with the GC group.

 

[Cookster15]

BTW why do so many people spell it O'Conner?
Is it an Irish thing?

Carelessness. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Cookster15]

Sold ride by O'Connor today to hold onto 4th. Solid grand tour for him.

 

[movingtarget]

Sold ride by O'Connor today to hold onto 4th. Solid grand tour for him.

Hopefully Haig and Hindley can also get back on track. Post Cadel, Australia has some more GC talent on view.

 

[Bolder]

He used the time gifted to him very well and this is only his first effort for GC anyway, next time he will probably finish lower down if even if he has stronger performances out of the GC group.

Yeah, I was pretty impressed by his grit, but as we all know the trick is to repeat it. A stronger TT would be a good start. He won't get that kind of a gift any more...