Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) went into the 2023 Tour de France with each cause for optimism, having simply delivered a 3rd place on the Critérium du Dauphiné and in addition feeling contemporary sufficient to maintain constructing type because the Grand Tour progressed. Nevertheless, two days in and the race hasn’t run to plan, with O’Connor having shed 1:41 to general chief Adam Yates (UAE Staff Emirates).
There haven’t been any main disasters, although a crash inside the last 40km of stage 2 wasn’t precisely splendid. The Western Australia, nonetheless, wasn’t blaming that for his misfortunes, fast to level out that “I fell on high of two guys. I’m positive they’re worse than me”.
O’Connor linked again onto the primary group after that fall, nicely in time for the foremost climb of the day, however he nonetheless came visiting the San Sébastián end line in a bunch behind the important thing favourites. That added to the 33 seconds he’d already misplaced by advantage of additionally being within the second group on the opening day.
“I used to be good till the highest of Jaizkibel after which I used to be actually dangerous,” O’Connor advised reporters after stage 2. ”The straightforward matter is I’m not adequate for the time being, weirdly.”
The class 2 climb of peaked lower than 10km from the end line, shredding the sphere as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) created a niche on the high. A lead group of 24 reformed, with Victor Lafay (Cofidis) delivering a late assault to win the stage.
There have been then seven riders within the subsequent group, together with O’Connor. They crossed the road 58 seconds again, not capable of chase again on after being distanced on the ultimate slopes of the Jaizkibel and O’Connor ended up ending the stage in twenty eighth place.
“I really feel nice however then when it comes right down to the intense enterprise I don’t really feel so flash so I don’t know. I can’t actually clarify it,” mentioned O’Connor. “Slightly bit disappointing, however yeah, I suppose you’ll be able to’t have a solution for the whole lot.”
O’Connor shot to prominence after ending fourth general on the Tour de France in 2021, however an early crash left him with a torn glute muscle in 2022 and because of this he left the race after stage 9, having battled by means of so long as he might. The 2023 version supplied what appeared a super probability to once more strive for a excessive end once more. His season was focussed on the Tour de France and his French staff was squarely behind him as he aimed for a high ten outcome, however the dream was to complete additional up the ranks.
“It’s a tough day. We anticipated a special outcome,” Vincent Lavenu, common supervisor of AG2R-Citroën, mentioned in an announcement put out by the staff on Twitter. “He’s dissatisfied, we’re dissatisfied. I do know that the staff can bounce again.”
The dream outcome could now really feel a great distance from attain, however the 27-year-old is definitely not able to abandon his authentic goal.
“It’s not splendid however it doesn’t imply I nonetheless can’t end within the high 10 general. It’s simply two fairly common days. We’ve acquired two dash days now arising after which we’ve acquired the Pyrenees,” mentioned O’Connor.
“I’ll proceed doing my finest and see if I can nonetheless be within the high 10.”