When Ben O’Connor stepped into the 2022 Tour de France, he was doing it with red-hot kind, excessive expectations and the strain – be it self-imposed or in any other case – that appears nigh-impossible to keep away from when you’re lining up the 12 months after having impulsively given a French staff a excessive end at their residence Grand Tour.
It was a far cry from the no-expectations entry to the Tour in 2021 that finally ended with him handing his new AG2R-Citroën squad fourth place total. The result was additionally simply as a lot of a distinction.
A crash within the first highway stage of 2022 left a mark that may finish O’Connor’s race, with the Western Australian rider stepping away after stage 9, having battled on so long as he may with a torn glute muscle.
Pondering again to that difficult version when excessive hopes had been so rapidly dashed could be sufficient to make anybody nervous, however speaking to O’Connor simply days earlier than the Tour de France hits the highway in Bilbao, it one way or the other appears that experiencing the lows of the battle for yellow, in addition to the highs, have delivered a brand new stage of pre-race calm to the 27-year-old, who’s saving the adrenaline for when it is wanted most.
“I simply suppose it is understanding that even when you’re at your best possible it is simply luck, or unhealthy luck, or likelihood or destiny that takes you out, making you unable to carry out,” O’Connor informed Cyclingnews.
“So I suppose it is coping with that to begin with, and never getting too far forward of your self, as a result of ultimately of the race there’s going to be the stress and the conditions the place it’s important to make the suitable calls on the highway. And in the event you’re creating it somewhat bit [of stress], both at residence or throughout the staff beforehand, it would not assist.”
In 2022 O’Connor mentioned he had headed into the Tour with a way of needing to show that the fourth place in his debut ‘wasn’t only a fluke’ and that he’d deserved to be there, although this 12 months there was a shift.
“It was the primary time I would actually been at a race as an enormous chief and really having numerous expectations and it sort of going unsuitable, however not as a result of I made an error,” mentioned O’Connor of the 2022 crash close to the top of stage 2 that caught him, and plenty of different riders, out.
“I feel that if it was my very own mistake, then I’d be very indignant and I would have some fairly bitter emotions. However in the intervening time I’m simply, I may say happy-nervous, however ultimately that is simply excited to get it began.”
“I wish to get cracking and end the Tour de France once more, see Paris and have that overwhelming feeling of accomplishment which fills you after the three week journey. And wherever you end is wherever you end, as you realize that alongside that highway you’ll attempt to not make as many errors and provides the whole lot.”
Gradual burn
Wanting again on the 2022 season that led towards the Tour de France there is no such thing as a questioning why O’Connor was a rider shouldering excessive expectations. His power and rising standing within the top-tier of contenders had been clearly evident as he swept up a stage win on the Volta a Catalunya, victory on the Tour du Jura, fifth total on the Tour de Romandie after which third on the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“In just about each different race outdoors the Tour de France, I felt like I used to be among the finest variations of myself,” mentioned O’Connor. “All the time there, racing with the very best.”
The 2023 season run-in has seemed somewhat totally different, although that won’t essentially be a nasty factor.
O’Connor began his season in Australia, one thing the rider mentioned introduced him loads of enjoyable and delight. Plus he additionally swept up sixth total and a stage podium on the Tour Down Below whereas taking over a primary summer time of racing in his residence nation since 2019.
After that issues didn’t go so effectively, nonetheless, with O’Connor being caught by a abdomen bug in March. He nonetheless determined to tackle the Volta a Catalunya, a race with acquainted roads and good reminiscences, but additionally a race that ultimately grew to become a lesson discovered in managing well being by means of the season.
“Final 12 months was actually, actually unimaginable as a result of I used to be capable of put collectively good races the entire means all year long up till The Tour,” mentioned O’Connor.
“While this 12 months hasn’t actually been technically like that, not for lack of attempting, but it surely simply did not work out. So, yeah, I suppose there are a variety of various methods you’ll be able to put together, however this 12 months seems just like the gradual construct.”
O’Connor headed into June with out the shape affirming performances of the earlier season, lining up for a last pre-Tour check on the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“I can not lie, I used to be somewhat nervous firstly,” mentioned O’Connor. “Nervous to know the place I used to be sitting. I had some good, trustworthy chats with the staff. Just a few real, thorough suggestions with me asking ‘look I really cannot inform, am I good or not? Simply inform me if I am not ok right now!’.”
O’Connor was reassured by his staff, after which rapidly reassured by his efficiency as effectively, taking third total at Dauphiné for a second 12 months working amid a subject full of Tour de France rivals.
“You wish to know the place you sit,” mentioned O’Connor. “You all the time wish to examine your self. Even when you realize a Grand Tour is a distinct beast to a one-week stage race, it is good to check your self and suppose going into the Tour that you simply’re in with a great shot, that you’ve a great likelihood to carry out effectively within the race.”
Peaks, expectations and efficiency
Final 12 months O’Connor could have had each purpose to enter the Tour de France with confidence, however given how issues turned out he is a bit more circumspect this time. First he’s focussing on one small purpose that has the potential to unravel the most important of targets.
“To be trustworthy it will be good to simply get by means of the primary highway stage with no drawback,” mentioned O’Connor.
“2021 was the huge crash and I assumed the whole lot was damaged, then final 12 months, you realize, the primary highway stage I additionally went down – it wasn’t my fault crashing, you had been simply within the shit present. I am simply very eager to get previous that after which benefit from the precise racing a part of it.”
Whereas it could be inconceivable to foretell the crashes, there are clear tell-tale indicators in relation to kind, and as O’Connor factors out, a few months that didn’t fairly go to plan actually imply nothing if he’s firing in relation to the Tour de France.
“It really provides me somewhat bit extra confidence now, realizing that I am nonetheless recent. It would not really feel like I’ve hit absolutely the limits of my private capabilities already,” mentioned O’Connor.
“It is sort of good to know that you simply’re not drawn, that you have to be very, superb within the third week as any prime GC man would dream of and hope for.”
O’Connor could have flown beneath the radar somewhat extra this 12 months and is probably somewhat extra circumspect when requested about his goals for the July 1 to July 23 occasion. Nonetheless, he has clearly nonetheless has each intention of chasing that total consequence as arduous as ever.
“I feel simply Dauphiné, I do know I will be up there in that prime ten for certain. And you realize, I dream of with the ability to end additional than that however ultimately I’d nonetheless be completely satisfied ending within the prime ten,” mentioned O’Connor.
“I imagine that personally I can do a consequence just like what I did in 2021. However yeah, I do not actually wish to jinx myself.”