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Ben O'Connor: Baby face becomes conqueror

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Great. So possibly better known in America than Oz.

Despite winning 2 of the three GTs, leading the 3rd after 17 stages, a men’s elite world title and various monuments and classics we are back to the level of public ignorance of cycling in Australia that existed when Phil Anderson first put the sport on the map in a beer commercial 🙄
...and Phil used to come to our neighborhood to train as his wife was from PNW. He's ride 6 hrs a day in late Winter, early Spring with a local icon. Zone 2 for him, zone 3+ for my buddy. That helped to make him notable on the West Coast along with riding Tour de...Trump among other events on the East Coast. If he rode for an Aussie sponsor that might help but his team is doing well in Europe.
 
Great. So possibly better known in America than Oz.

Despite winning 2 of the three GTs, leading the 3rd after 17 stages, a men’s elite world title and various monuments and classics we are back to the level of public ignorance of cycling in Australia that existed when Phil Anderson first put the sport on the map in a beer commercial 🙄
Phil Anderson had tons of charisma, too.
 
Yeah, pretty great ride today. And the entire race. I think he has been a little too optimistic at times throughout the race when he tried to follow wheels but ultimately that will likely not cost him anything, as I think Roglic was always going to peg those five minutes back. Second in the race seems very, very likely now. Big result!
In some ways he maintained his form through week 3 better than Mas and Carapaz did. Particularly the latter because we know he would have kept attacking if he had the legs.
 
He was given a big head start to work with, too. Mas and Carapaz ended up with the burden of not helping Roglic in the process.
Gall was great but Bora had horses to keep things close and controlled, drafting and bike swap still couldn't contain Roglic. O'Connor rode bold in red and has raced great without it.. Only hope his TT is good enough.. Definitely impressive..
 
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After yesterday, I expected O'Conner to possibility drop out of podium contention and yet now I think he has a big shot at finishing this Vuelta in 2nd in a very hard raced grand tour and in tough conditions some days. Even with the big head start he earned on stage 6 this has been way more impressive than his 4th at the weaker Giro. The pressures of holding the red jersey for 13 days are not insignificant.

Its a tough ask but I hope he could beat Mas in the TT as that would really cap off this race for him. Today's result proved he has good recovery. He should be able to comfortably stave off Carapaz to secure a podium finish.

Today he also validated his team leadership ahead of Felix Gall. Decathlon leadership will be very happy with BOC's parting contribution as he leaves for Jayco AlUla. 13 days in red and a likely grand tour podium finish. Jayco will also be pleased their new recruit comes with a solid platform to deliver grand tour success to their sponsors.
 
After yesterday, I expected O'Conner to possibility drop out of podium contention and yet now I think he has a big shot at finishing this Vuelta in 2nd in a very hard raced grand tour and in tough conditions some days. Even with the big head start he earned on stage 6 this has been way more impressive than his 4th at the weaker Giro. The pressures of holding the red jersey for 13 days are not insignificant.

Its a tough ask but I hope he could beat Mas in the TT as that would really cap off this race for him. Today's result proved he has good recovery. He should be able to comfortably stave off Carapaz to secure a podium finish.

Today he also validated his team leadership ahead of Felix Gall. Decathlon leadership will be very happy with BOC's parting contribution as he leaves for Jayco AlUla. 13 days in red and a likely grand tour podium finish. Jayco will also be pleased their new recruit comes with a solid platform to deliver grand tour success to their sponsors.
Yes, today's stage suited him better but all expectations were that more time would be bled. Fantastic ride and 2nd would be a huge result.
 
Great ride today to cap off a huge Vuelta. Can hold his head high.
He made a few small missteps but these would never have saved him from Roglic, so in think he had achieved as much as he could here. Great ride for second and smoked Mas and Carapaz in the TT. He has to be proud of this performance, great way to leave the team with a stage and a 2nd place in GC.
 
Happy for O'Connor. 4th places were getting boring. Just ask Michael Matthews about 4th place finishes..........I thought he could hang on in the TT and his TT has improved in the last year or so. Roglic dodged a bullet with the sickness going through the Bora team but he was a deserved winner and kept chipping away at O'Connor's lead. Now O'Connor heads off to the Jayco team with a bit more confidence.