(Bilbao) Ben O’Connor, the leader of AG2R-Citroën, wants to “compete with the best” in the Tour de France which starts on Saturday from Bilbao and where he will aim for a place in the Top 5.
“I feel good, I want to compete with the best,” said the Australian on Friday, third in the recent Critérium du Dauphiné which serves as a dress rehearsal for the Grande Boucle (July 1-23).
Fourth in the Tour in 2021 where he won the Tignes stage, O’Connor had to give up quickly last year, injured.
“It was frustrating because I hadn’t had the opportunity to show what I was capable of, even though I had already finished third in the Dauphiné,” said the 27-year-old rider who refined his preparation during an altitude course in Tignes.
“Ben arrives with great freshness. His start to the season was complicated for medical reasons. There, the sensations are super good, the Dauphiné has given him a lot of confidence, “said his sports director, Julien Jurdié.
“He will be surrounded by a very competitive group. The profile of the Tour pushed us to put as many climbers as possible,” added Jurdié.
In the mountains, the Australian will be supported in particular by Felix Gall, Clément Berthet and Aurélien Paret-Peintre.
“Probably the best team around me since joining AG2R-Citroën” in 2021, O’Connor said. “Felix was with the best in the Tour de Suisse, Aurélien won a stage in the Giro and Clément is progressing year after year. I think every step of the way at least one of them will be by my side on the mountain, which is really cool,” he said.
Before that, he will first have to survive the first week which was fatal to him last year, especially during the cobblestone stage.
“She’s harder on paper this year, but at the same time more manageable, less technical and with fewer pitfalls,” he said.
