The switch window has simply opened and Jayco-AlUla have been fast to verify their new signing, with Ben O’Connor on board to spearhead the overall classification cost for the Australian crew with a Grand Tour podium goal looming giant.
O’Connor, who has completed fourth general at each the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, is making the shift from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale after 4 seasons with the French crew. He has dedicated to 2 years with the Australian squad, which can be dropping its main general contender, Simon Yates, in 2025.
“To be sincere, it’s actually an thought I’ve all the time liked; to race as an Aussie and win on an Aussie crew,” mentioned O’Connor in a media launch from his 2025 and 2026 crew. “I’m at a degree now the place I must ship, so it’ll be much more particular to do it with an Australian set-up. To have the chance to race with mates on the prime degree is uncommon, and I’m simply so eager to get caught in.”
“With Ben O’Connor we’re clearly taking a look at somebody who will fill in that basic classification hole with Simon Yates transferring on,” mentioned Jayco-AlUla basic supervisor Brent Copeland. “We really feel that O’Connor will match into the crew properly, tradition clever, which is absolutely essential for us.”
Jayco-AlUla additionally has different general hopes that it’s working to develop for the longer term, with Luke Plapp among the many crew’s key signings of final 12 months and Chris Harper displaying indicators of a GC step up within the shorter excursions and Eddie Dunbar delivering promising indicators along with his seventh on the Giro d’Italia final 12 months, however the rider from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale appears able to step as much as the plate right away.
“With the overall classification, we imagine he has room for enchancment and with this crew we can get one of the best out of him. It’s a very vital and essential signing for us for 2025,” mentioned Copeland.
Earlier than then, nonetheless, O’Connor will line up for the Australian crew on the Olympic Video games street race on Saturday August 3, being a late substitute for an injured Plapp. He can be racing alongside his quickly to be commerce teammate Michael Matthews in addition to Israel-Premier Tech’s Simon Clarke in Paris earlier than doubtless heading to his remaining Grand Tour with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, La Vuelta a España.
