Latest news with #BenOConnor
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Sport
- SBS Australia
He 'nuked it' ... and super Plapp was out for a show
In the latest episode of the SBS Cycling Podcast, Christophe Mallet and Dave McKenzie unpack the drama of Stage 13 of the Tour de France—a gripping time trial. They focus on Tadej Pogačar's dominant ride, especially his decision to use a road bike instead of a time trial setup, which may have given him a crucial aerodynamic edge. The hosts describe the brutal conditions riders faced despite the beautiful mountain scenery, with the heat adding an extra layer of difficulty. Pogačar's third stage win has widened the general classification gap, putting the pressure on rivals like Vingegaard and Evenepoel. The episode also gives well-earned attention to standout performances from the Australian riders. Luke Plapp's impressive fifth-place finish is examined in detail, along with his race tactics and development as a rising force. Christophe and Dave also highlight the form of Ben O'Connor and Harry Sweeney, noting their potential in upcoming stages. Looking ahead, the hosts preview the looming Queen Stage in the Pyrenees, speculating on team strategies and possible breakaways as the Tour enters a critical phase.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tour de France pays respects to 19-year-old cyclist who died after a crash in Italy
AUCH, France (AP) — Tour de France riders applauded for a minute before the 12th stage on Thursday in memory of Samuele Privitera, the 19-year-old Italian who died after a crash while racing in Italy the day before. Privitera crashed in the first stage of the Tour of Valle D'Aosta in the northwestern municipality of Pontey on Wednesday. Race organizers said the circumstances of the accident were 'still unclear and are being investigated by public safety authorities.' Privitera was a member of the Hagens Berman Jayco team, the development team for Jayco Alula, which is racing at the Tour de France and whose members including Ben O'Connor wore black armbands. 'Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team,' Hagens Berman Jayco team director Axel Merckx said in a statement. 'This team has always been a small family, and moments like this are unimaginable. He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness, was always a bright light to whatever room or race that he was in at that moment. To lose him is devastating beyond words.' Italian media reports said Privitera crashed on a descent about 35 kilometers from the finish in Aosta at a speed of almost 70 kph. He reportedly lost his helmet and crashed into a barrier. The second stage of the the Tour of Valle D'Aosta was canceled and participating teams were being given a choice whether to continue with the third stage on Friday. Tour de France riders also expressed their sorrow on social media. 'Rest in peace,' race favorite Tadej Pogačar, who crashed on Wednesday, wrote on Instagram. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Tour de France pays respects to 19-year-old cyclist who died after a crash in Italy
AUCH, France (AP) — Tour de France riders applauded for a minute before the 12th stage on Thursday in memory of Samuele Privitera, the 19-year-old Italian who died after a crash while racing in Italy the day before. Privitera crashed in the first stage of the Tour of Valle D'Aosta in the northwestern municipality of Pontey on Wednesday. Race organizers said the circumstances of the accident were 'still unclear and are being investigated by public safety authorities.' Privitera was a member of the Hagens Berman Jayco team, the development team for Jayco Alula, which is racing at the Tour de France and whose members including Ben O'Connor wore black armbands. 'Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team,' Hagens Berman Jayco team director Axel Merckx said in a statement. 'This team has always been a small family, and moments like this are unimaginable. He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness, was always a bright light to whatever room or race that he was in at that moment. To lose him is devastating beyond words.' Italian media reports said Privitera crashed on a descent about 35 kilometers from the finish in Aosta at a speed of almost 70 kph. He reportedly lost his helmet and crashed into a barrier. The second stage of the the Tour of Valle D'Aosta was canceled and participating teams were being given a choice whether to continue with the third stage on Friday. Tour de France riders also expressed their sorrow on social media. 'Rest in peace,' race favorite Tadej Pogačar, who crashed on Wednesday, wrote on Instagram. ___ AP sports:
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tour de France 2025: Aussie Ben O'Connor in top 20 at halfway mark
The Tour de France has reached Toulouse and the riders have definitely earned their first rest day with ferocious pace as we near the halfway point of the three-week race. The battle for the Maillot Jaune has been fascinating. Tadej Pogacar has been happy to pass it to anyone who is not a real threat for his title. It takes pressure off his UAE Emirates squad, slightly depleted with the withdrawal of the champion rider's right-hand man Joao Almeida. Irishman Ben Healy proved again that he is the Energiser bunny with a dogged performance to snatch the yellow jersey. Former team leader of Jayco AlUla, Simon Yates – now right hand man for Vingegaard at Visma Lease a Bike – was too strong and rode to victory on stage 10. But it was the current leader of the Aussie squad, Ben O'Connor, who got hearts pumping. He showed that he is finally recovering from his injuries on his spectacular stage 1 crash. Ben was strong in the breakaway all day and only faded slightly in the final kilometre to finish fourth. 'It's been a roller coaster of a tour in many ways,' O'Connor said. 'Both physically and emotionally. 'But I'm feeling stronger as each day goes on and I'm looking forward to the bigger mountains coming up.' Teammate Luke Plapp is also coming good and will be a chance to get into a breakaway over the next week. 'I've been struggling for a few days but I'm feeling good now and looking forward to the challenge,' Plapp said. As good as the race for yellow has been, it's this Thursday and Friday that will show the strongest and expose the challengers. Thursday's 180km stage to the summit of Hautacam is brutal and Vingegaard and his Visma Lease a Bike team must try every trick in the book to isolate Pogacar. But Friday's individual time trial, although only 10km long, is a monster and virtually all uphill. In the time trial, called the race of truth, there are no team tactics. The legs do the talking and Pogacar seems to have the loudest voice at the moment. It hasn't been a brilliant tour for the Aussies so far, but two third placings – Kaden Groves in a solid sprint on stage 3 and a wonderful ride by Michael Storer to take third spot on stage 6 – have been highlights. As the race goes on Groves will get closer to the other sprinters. Storer proved with his 10th overall at the Giro that he is capable of challenging in the mountains in the final week. Harry Sweeny has been fantastic with EF Education-Easy Post. His team now has the Maillot Jaune and Sweeny's going to be very busy in the next couple of days trying to keep that jersey on his teammate Healy's back.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Ireland's Ben Healy takes yellow in the Tour de France, as Australian duo miss the podium
Australians Ben O'Connor and Michael Storer have narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the Tour de France after riding in a punishing breakaway in the mountains of the Massif Central. O'Connor (Jayco AlUla) finished fourth and Storer (Tudor Pro) fifth, so close but so far, after the Aussie duo were unable to match the pace on the last climb of the 165.3 kilometre 10th stage. Briton Simon Yates (Visma Lease-A-Bike) won the first mountain stage of this year's Tour while third-placed Irish rider Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) took the yellow jersey, 31 seconds behind him. In between was Dutchman Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), nine seconds behind Yates. O'Connor, who had led several attacks as a 28-strong breakaway was gradually whittled down to five, did not have the legs after those efforts and came in 18 seconds behind Healy, with Storer 34 seconds further behind. Storer has never been on the podium in the Tour de France, while O'Connor has won one stage, in 2021, when he was fourth overall. The peloton was more than two-and-a-half minutes behind the quintet, which is how Healy earned yellow. The Irishman, who claimed his first stage victory on Thursday, took the overall lead, 29 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates-XRG), after driving the breakaway single handedly in the closing 20km as he sacrificed the possibility of another stage win to become leader. As Pogačar approached the finish, Healy smiled while watching the Slovenian on the giant screen. With Pogačar visibly backing off, the EF Education-EasyPost rider crossed the line to become the first Irishman to lead the Tour since Stephen Roche won the race in 1987. Healy had looked one of the strongest riders in the breakaway on the 165.3km hilly route from Ennezat, but Yates timed his move to perfection, attacking solo on the final climb to seal a tactical victory. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) is third in GC standings, 1:29 behind, and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease-A-Bike) 1:46 behind in fourth. O'Connor's efforts moved him up to 18th, 11:50 behind Healy. He is the leading Australian. The brutal stage from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy had 4,400m of elevation gain across seven category-two climbs and a category-three ascent, with the usual Monday rest day delayed as 14 July is Bastille Day, a national day of celebration in France that marks the 1789 revolution. The break formed after about 10km and solidified after 20km, with Harry Sweeney (EF Education-EasyPost) and Lucas Plapp (Jayco AlUla) making a quartet of Australians involved. Sweeney and O'Connor tried to lead an attack with 128km left but were caught, O'Connor went again with 102km, being caught by nine others to form a 10-man breakaway. Sweeney and Storer later joined them as the group grew to 18 but the former was dropped with 55km left. Three more attacks by O'Connor reduced the frontrunners to seven with 29km to go and it was down to five when Yates attacked. Initially the West Australian went with him, but Yates, who won the Giro D'Italia a few weeks ago, was too strong. "I was not really expecting any opportunities here," said the Englishman. "We came here fully focused on Jonas [Vingegaard] and the GC, but the stage played out in a way that I could be there for the win." Healy became the first Irishman to wear yellow since Stephen Roche in 1987. "It was insanely tough. It was a battle against myself really," said Healy, who paid tribute to teammate Sweeny's help. "It's a fairytale. "I gambled a bit. I had the stage win in the bank and how often do you get the opportunity to put yourself into yellow? I felt I had to really go for it." After Tuesday's rest, and Wednesday's flat stage around Toulouse, the peloton will head into the Pyrenees, where the GC battle will heat up. Wires
