Vuelta a Espana 2024: Ben O'Connor looking 'hard to break' as Bora admit 'things got out of hand'
Published 22/08/2024 at 21:50 GMT+1
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sports director Patxi Vila has admitted that Ben O'Connor's stunning assault during Stage 6 of the Vuelta a Espana "got out of hand." The Australian overturned Primoz Roglic's two minute lead to take a 4'51'' advantage. Eurosport's Matt Stephens thinks that the Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale rider will now be hard to reel in after claiming the red jersey.
Highlights: O’Connor blows Vuelta open with solo win on Stage 6 to take red jersey
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eurosport cycling expert Matt Stephens believes Ben O'Connor could be tough to catch after his sensational victory on Stage 6 at the Vuelta a Espana.
The Australian took the overall lead in the general classification thanks to a stunning assault on the 185.5km route between Jerez de la Frontera and Yunquera.
He went into the day trailing three-time champion Primoz Roglic by almost two minutes.
But the Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale rider now holds a 4'51'' advantage following a long-distance break.
O'Connor left Stephens astonished with the audacity of it all, as he said: "The fractious nature of the chase behind, there was definitely teams playing a bit of brinkmanship.
"But to take even more time, at the hardest point of the race, just shows that he's a man on fire.
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"He clearly had a bad day on Stage 4. He lost a bit of time. His team-mate was in front of him, Felix Gall, but he did come into this race with overall aspirations.
"I tell you what - he is going to be hard to break now.
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'He's going to be hard to break' - Can O'Connor win the Vuelta?
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The problem he's had over the past is that little bit of lack of consistency. But he's got a steadier day tomorrow, to hopefully recover a little bit.
"What panache as well. He rides for a French team. [It's a] 30th win of the year for AG2R La Mondiale. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
"I was thoroughly entertained. From start to finish, that was a wonderful stage, wasn't it? Boy, week one. This race has exploded into life."
Despite O'Connor's huge advantage, former Jumbo-Visma cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck believes he could still be clawed in.
There are a further 15 stages to go in the race, which culminates in Madrid on September 8.
Van Hooydonck, who is also part of Eurosport's team for the Vuelta, added: "It's incredible. Nobody saw it coming, that he would pick this day as his day to go into the red jersey.
"We spoke about giving the red jersey away. I think some riders, Roglic, he wouldn't be worried about the lead that Ben O'Connor has now, with all due respect to Ben.
"But the riders in third and fifth, they will be scratching their head and thinking this is a very big gap to make up."
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'Pretty special to crush it like that,' admits O'Connor after Vuelta stunner
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bad day at the office for Bora
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sports director Patxi Vila admitted "things got out of hand" for his team.
Roglic's team-mate Florian Lipowitz was supposed to keep in touch with O'Connor, but the strength and endurance shown by the Australian meant they failed to reel him in.
“Things didn’t play out as we wanted," Vila said, per Cycling News. "The start was really fast-moving and the break of the day was a really strong one.
"Lipo was in there, and we thought he would have no problem staying with Ben and we’d get another option on GC.
“What O’Connor did was incredible, I’ve rarely seen that. Going up the last climb he just didn’t lose any time. I would never have expected that, it’s a real surprise.
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'I wouldn't have been comfortable' - Van Hooydonck on O'Connor solo charge
Video credit: TNT Sports
“The idea was that Lipo’s presence in the break would get the other teams working, because they wouldn’t like us getting another rider up there on GC.
"But then with O’Connor being so much stronger than I thought, it all got out of hand.”
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