La Vuelta Ciclista a Espana 2024
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Congratulations to Ben, who has joined an elite club - he's only the 4th Australian to finish on the podium in a Grand Tour. He joins Cadel Evans, Richie Porte and Jai Hindley.
Ben's ride was reminiscent of Tommy Voeckler in the 2011 Tour de France - he took the lead after taking a huge chunk of time in a long breakaway early in the race, then fought like Hell to defend it. He was, at best, the 12th best climber in the race - which put him up against it, given that the Vuelta had the toughest course in years. There were many stages where he was expected to lose bulk time, but he managed to minimise his losses, and in the end it was only Roglic who had the legs to surpass him.
Ben's ride was reminiscent of Tommy Voeckler in the 2011 Tour de France - he took the lead after taking a huge chunk of time in a long breakaway early in the race, then fought like Hell to defend it. He was, at best, the 12th best climber in the race - which put him up against it, given that the Vuelta had the toughest course in years. There were many stages where he was expected to lose bulk time, but he managed to minimise his losses, and in the end it was only Roglic who had the legs to surpass him.
As an aside, has anyone checked the AG2R bus for salmonella ampoules? (Joking).
The loss of Sivakof and Martinez, both to suspected salmonella poisoning, critically altered the way the final climb was raced on Saturday. If those riders had been present and correct, I have no doubt that the climb would have been raced far harder, as was an almost identical climb on Friday. In their absence, the pace never got high enough to put O'Connor into real difficulty, likely saving him 60-90 seconds in the process.
Sometimes luck's a fortune, and Ben made the most of it. Chapeau, Ben!
The loss of Sivakof and Martinez, both to suspected salmonella poisoning, critically altered the way the final climb was raced on Saturday. If those riders had been present and correct, I have no doubt that the climb would have been raced far harder, as was an almost identical climb on Friday. In their absence, the pace never got high enough to put O'Connor into real difficulty, likely saving him 60-90 seconds in the process.
Sometimes luck's a fortune, and Ben made the most of it. Chapeau, Ben!
eth-dog
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He really wasn't. He was easily top 10. I love how you're willing to die on this hill despite the fact his legs showed that he was one of the best climbers with only five riders finishing within his breakaway margin (one of which was also because he took time back from a breakaway).
Groves was great. Will be interesting to see if they flip his and Philipsen's GT program, can't imagine he would have re-signed unless they promised him the TourBravo to Ben O'Çonnor.
and also to Kadan Groves, - to finish first , first you have to finish !
and to Jay Vine.
Well done !
And thanks to all who have posted comments throughout the race.
He really wasn't in the top-10 climbers, given that he rarely (if ever) finished inside the top-10 GC riders on any of the mountain top finish climbs.
Congratulations also to Groves & Vine.
Kudos to Soler, for setting up Vine to take the KotM jersey on Saturday's stage. By attacking the breakaway riders on each climb, he allowed Vine to sit on the back of the group - allowing him to attack them for 2nd on each of the climbs, and leaving him with enough energy to take the final point needed even after the breakaway was caught by the GC group on the penultimate climb.
- Oct 12, 2016
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Bens biggest issue is controlling himself, he is an undisputed hot head. The last few stages he raced how he should have for the whole second week, just ride his race and don't follow the surges. Hopefully it's the learning curve he needed and Hayman and Co have a better working relationship with him than the French guys. It's a 3 week race so regardless of how he got there, you have to be consistent every day, which he can do. He will be better value than Simon Yates who has bad days that lose 10 mins. The reality is the best juniors want to race for UAE or Visma so it's a hard slog to secure elite talent. A podium in a GT is huge achievement.
I am no expert, but full marks to Ben O'Connor for a great ride since taking the red jersey.Well done.Standing second on the podium is nothing to be sneezed at.
But also full marks to Hindley and Groves for stage wins during the race.
And I am a proud West Aussie .
But also full marks to Hindley and Groves for stage wins during the race.
And I am a proud West Aussie .
OK,sorry I thought three Aussies won stages.
As I said, I am no expert.
But two wore on the podium wearing the jerseys .LOL
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- Aug 4, 2016
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He is a good rider, but 4th place finishes in the Tour and Giro to go with this podium is a great record for a rider of O’Connors talent.
Groves would have one of the best schedules to maximise results of any cyclist in the world. He’s hasn’t got the pure speed of the very top sprinters but he can probably keep winning some Vuelta and Giro stages for years. Funnily enough this year may have been his best bet to head to the Tour in hindsight but I expect Philipsen, Milan and Merlier at least to all be there next year and he’d find it really tough to win a stage.
Groves would have one of the best schedules to maximise results of any cyclist in the world. He’s hasn’t got the pure speed of the very top sprinters but he can probably keep winning some Vuelta and Giro stages for years. Funnily enough this year may have been his best bet to head to the Tour in hindsight but I expect Philipsen, Milan and Merlier at least to all be there next year and he’d find it really tough to win a stage.
eth-dog
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It'll be Jasper or Kaden for Alpecin. Philipsen hasn't ridden the Giro before so I wouldn't be surprised if he rides there, with Alpecin promising the tour to get him to re-sign.
Rogla has said his main goals next year are the TDS and TDF. Suisse and Pologne are the only stage races he hasn't won in Europe so expecy him to line up at both. I'm hoping he comes to the TDU next year as well because that and Guangxi are the only other ones he hasn't won.
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Ben O'Connor rode well.. Put the wind up the jumpers of the Europeans, but we know that BOC cannot time trial..
Next year, we should have that machine Luke Plapp, alongside Ben O'Connor.. Covering O'Connor is a fruitless excercise.. but it can limit the damage.... What's the name of that rider from the little team? And put time into them, where the TT won't matter.
