One picture most likely summed up Ben O’Connor’s stoic defence of his Vuelta a España lead on its hardest mountain stage to this point – the second when the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale chief blasted throughout the end line in Granada to assert third on the day, and 4 bonus seconds into the discount.
The minimal time regained by O’Connor in Granada will virtually actually be irrelevant come the end in Madrid in two weeks’ time. However on a day when for some, however not all, race observers thought his lack of the pink jersey had been all however taken as a right, to have the ability to get the higher hand on his rivals, albeit briefly, should have felt just like the icing on an already tasty cake.
Regardless of their lack of current race expertise in defending Grand Tour leads – the earlier time for Decathlon was within the 2009 Tour de France – O’Connor’s crew did the whole lot anticipated of them, and extra, within the mountains of Sierra Nevada.
Even whereas arch-rivals Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe saved up a gentle tempo on the primary two ascents of the day, in anticipation of a Primož Roglič assault that by no means materialised, O’Connor remained totally supported. Then on the final crunch ascent of Hazallanas and all the way in which to the end in Granada, key wingman and climbing ace Felix Gall was nonetheless there to again up the Australian.
After Saturday’s unexpectedly giant time loss at Cazorla, ceding practically a minute to Roglič on a single steep 5km climb, O’Connor had hardly been in probably the most upbeat of moods on the stage 8 end. However 24 hours later Granada, he was visibly in a significantly better place as he donned his fourth pink jersey of the race.
“I felt way more as much as what I do know I can do,” O’Connor stated. “We had an ideal day right this moment as a crew, and I confirmed I’m not going to be pushed over for this pink jersey. It was significantly better than yesterday.
“I’m not involved that Adam Yates received right this moment, he spends a variety of time down right here, so it was sort of good and becoming for him. We let him within the break right this moment as a result of he wasn’t an ‘absolute should’ [to chase down] on our radar. So all credit score to him.”
O’Connor stated that though he knew the ascents of El Purche and Hazallanas very properly from repeat altitude coaching camps at Sierra Nevada, it wasn’t essentially a bonus as “all people is aware of them, in order that doesn’t change something”.
“The worst was Monachil” – the choice title for El Purche, the primary climb of the day – “as a result of I don’t know why however I all the time really feel horrible on it. However I like the ending circuit.”
O’Connor stated he had been stunned at Carapaz’s spectacular long-distance transfer, attacking with at least 90 kilometres to go, significantly as “it was so scorching and we have been all a bit cooked on the foot of the final climb.”
However he additionally paid credit score to his crew’s stellar collective efficiency saying he was “tremendous pleased with how we rode, we have been actually composed and we led from the entrance once we wanted to. Felix was glorious right this moment, so it exhibits we’re nonetheless right here to struggle.
“Each second counts, and I didn’t lose time right this moment – to some guys sure, however ultimately I confirmed an actual capability for what I can do. So I’m proud.”
Saturday’s setback was not one thing O’Connor had bargained for, however due to Sunday’s stronger-than-expected defence, to not point out that four-second time bonus, his general benefit remains to be standing tall at 3:53.
Globally, then the Australian’s weekend efficiency on the climbs of southern Spain can solely be certified as a serious success – and one which implies he’ll proceed to be a serious GC participant because the Vuelta now heads north.
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