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The Advertiser
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Really cool': Herbert gives Australia nine Open lives
Lucas Herbert has successfully qualified for the 153rd British Open, giving Australia a nine-strong contingent at Royal Portrush. Herbert will play just his second major championship in two years after topping final qualifying at West Lancashire with an eight-under-par two-round total to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China's Sampson Zheng. Since joining compatriots Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman on LIV Golf's Ripper GC team last year, the 2024 PGA Championship, where he tied for 43rd, has been Herbert's lone major appearance. But the reigning NSW Open champ has been the team's most consistent performer this year and narrowly missed earning an Open exemption at the Australian Open and New Zealand Open as well as the International Series Macau earlier this season. "I'm super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in the Open," Herbert said. "For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It's really cool be playing in another one and joining my teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there. "I've made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I've finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn't finish it off so it's definitely tested my patience. "I'm glad it's held out in the end." Herbert was the only Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at the Open from July 17-20. As well as Smith and the resurgent Leishman, the 29-year-old joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Australasian Tour order of merit winner Elvis Smylie, Curtis Luck and New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake at the season's final major. Sydney's Kevin Yuan missed out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole. After making the halfway cut on his US major debut at the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Smylie says he's also fired up for Portrush. The 23-year-old has been poring over footage of the course and studying Irishman Shane Lowry's famous 2019 victory, when Smith was the only Australian to make the weekend. "I've been watching the official film that they do every year. Just watching it gives me goosebumps," Smylie said on a Zoom call ahead of next week's Scottish Open. "I'm just really excited to embrace the Northern Irish crowd with Rory and Shane Lowry and a handful of other top players. "It will be really cool." Former world No.1 Lee Westwood was another notable qualifier. The 52-year-old Englishman will contest his first major since 2022 after topping the scoring with seven under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now also with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th behind the triumphant Smith at St Andrews three years ago. "The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar," Westwood said. "The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush." Lucas Herbert has successfully qualified for the 153rd British Open, giving Australia a nine-strong contingent at Royal Portrush. Herbert will play just his second major championship in two years after topping final qualifying at West Lancashire with an eight-under-par two-round total to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China's Sampson Zheng. Since joining compatriots Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman on LIV Golf's Ripper GC team last year, the 2024 PGA Championship, where he tied for 43rd, has been Herbert's lone major appearance. But the reigning NSW Open champ has been the team's most consistent performer this year and narrowly missed earning an Open exemption at the Australian Open and New Zealand Open as well as the International Series Macau earlier this season. "I'm super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in the Open," Herbert said. "For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It's really cool be playing in another one and joining my teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there. "I've made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I've finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn't finish it off so it's definitely tested my patience. "I'm glad it's held out in the end." Herbert was the only Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at the Open from July 17-20. As well as Smith and the resurgent Leishman, the 29-year-old joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Australasian Tour order of merit winner Elvis Smylie, Curtis Luck and New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake at the season's final major. Sydney's Kevin Yuan missed out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole. After making the halfway cut on his US major debut at the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Smylie says he's also fired up for Portrush. The 23-year-old has been poring over footage of the course and studying Irishman Shane Lowry's famous 2019 victory, when Smith was the only Australian to make the weekend. "I've been watching the official film that they do every year. Just watching it gives me goosebumps," Smylie said on a Zoom call ahead of next week's Scottish Open. "I'm just really excited to embrace the Northern Irish crowd with Rory and Shane Lowry and a handful of other top players. "It will be really cool." Former world No.1 Lee Westwood was another notable qualifier. The 52-year-old Englishman will contest his first major since 2022 after topping the scoring with seven under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now also with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th behind the triumphant Smith at St Andrews three years ago. "The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar," Westwood said. "The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush." Lucas Herbert has successfully qualified for the 153rd British Open, giving Australia a nine-strong contingent at Royal Portrush. Herbert will play just his second major championship in two years after topping final qualifying at West Lancashire with an eight-under-par two-round total to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China's Sampson Zheng. Since joining compatriots Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman on LIV Golf's Ripper GC team last year, the 2024 PGA Championship, where he tied for 43rd, has been Herbert's lone major appearance. But the reigning NSW Open champ has been the team's most consistent performer this year and narrowly missed earning an Open exemption at the Australian Open and New Zealand Open as well as the International Series Macau earlier this season. "I'm super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in the Open," Herbert said. "For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It's really cool be playing in another one and joining my teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there. "I've made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I've finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn't finish it off so it's definitely tested my patience. "I'm glad it's held out in the end." Herbert was the only Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at the Open from July 17-20. As well as Smith and the resurgent Leishman, the 29-year-old joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Australasian Tour order of merit winner Elvis Smylie, Curtis Luck and New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake at the season's final major. Sydney's Kevin Yuan missed out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole. After making the halfway cut on his US major debut at the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Smylie says he's also fired up for Portrush. The 23-year-old has been poring over footage of the course and studying Irishman Shane Lowry's famous 2019 victory, when Smith was the only Australian to make the weekend. "I've been watching the official film that they do every year. Just watching it gives me goosebumps," Smylie said on a Zoom call ahead of next week's Scottish Open. "I'm just really excited to embrace the Northern Irish crowd with Rory and Shane Lowry and a handful of other top players. "It will be really cool." Former world No.1 Lee Westwood was another notable qualifier. The 52-year-old Englishman will contest his first major since 2022 after topping the scoring with seven under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now also with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th behind the triumphant Smith at St Andrews three years ago. "The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar," Westwood said. "The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush." Lucas Herbert has successfully qualified for the 153rd British Open, giving Australia a nine-strong contingent at Royal Portrush. Herbert will play just his second major championship in two years after topping final qualifying at West Lancashire with an eight-under-par two-round total to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China's Sampson Zheng. Since joining compatriots Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman on LIV Golf's Ripper GC team last year, the 2024 PGA Championship, where he tied for 43rd, has been Herbert's lone major appearance. But the reigning NSW Open champ has been the team's most consistent performer this year and narrowly missed earning an Open exemption at the Australian Open and New Zealand Open as well as the International Series Macau earlier this season. "I'm super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in the Open," Herbert said. "For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It's really cool be playing in another one and joining my teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there. "I've made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I've finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn't finish it off so it's definitely tested my patience. "I'm glad it's held out in the end." Herbert was the only Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at the Open from July 17-20. As well as Smith and the resurgent Leishman, the 29-year-old joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Australasian Tour order of merit winner Elvis Smylie, Curtis Luck and New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake at the season's final major. Sydney's Kevin Yuan missed out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole. After making the halfway cut on his US major debut at the PGA Championship in May at Quail Hollow, Smylie says he's also fired up for Portrush. The 23-year-old has been poring over footage of the course and studying Irishman Shane Lowry's famous 2019 victory, when Smith was the only Australian to make the weekend. "I've been watching the official film that they do every year. Just watching it gives me goosebumps," Smylie said on a Zoom call ahead of next week's Scottish Open. "I'm just really excited to embrace the Northern Irish crowd with Rory and Shane Lowry and a handful of other top players. "It will be really cool." Former world No.1 Lee Westwood was another notable qualifier. The 52-year-old Englishman will contest his first major since 2022 after topping the scoring with seven under at Dundonald Links in Scotland. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now also with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th behind the triumphant Smith at St Andrews three years ago. "The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar," Westwood said. "The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush."
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Westwood lines up for Open; Aussie Herbert also through
Lee Westwood will make his first major championship start in three years when he tees it up at the Open later this month at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The 52-year-old Englishman was the medallist in his final qualifying group on Tuesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland, one of four sites where five spots in the Open field were on the line. Also through is Australian Lucas Herbert, who went 69-67 for a score of 8 under par, one stroke better than China's Sampson Zheng and two above Englishmen George Bloor at West Lancashire. A 4-for-2 playoff determined the final two available berths from the English course, which went to Finland's Oliver Lindell and Estonian amateur Richard Teder. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th at the Open Championship in 2022. At the par-72 Dundonald Links, he shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish 36 holes in 7 under par. He was joined by Scotland's Daniel Young, Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, Sweden's Jesper Sandborg and Scottish amateur Connor Graham, who beat countryman Paul O'Hara in a playoff for the fifth and final spot available. The Open Championship is being staged between July 17-20. Lee Westwood will make his first major championship start in three years when he tees it up at the Open later this month at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The 52-year-old Englishman was the medallist in his final qualifying group on Tuesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland, one of four sites where five spots in the Open field were on the line. Also through is Australian Lucas Herbert, who went 69-67 for a score of 8 under par, one stroke better than China's Sampson Zheng and two above Englishmen George Bloor at West Lancashire. A 4-for-2 playoff determined the final two available berths from the English course, which went to Finland's Oliver Lindell and Estonian amateur Richard Teder. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th at the Open Championship in 2022. At the par-72 Dundonald Links, he shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish 36 holes in 7 under par. He was joined by Scotland's Daniel Young, Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, Sweden's Jesper Sandborg and Scottish amateur Connor Graham, who beat countryman Paul O'Hara in a playoff for the fifth and final spot available. The Open Championship is being staged between July 17-20. Lee Westwood will make his first major championship start in three years when he tees it up at the Open later this month at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The 52-year-old Englishman was the medallist in his final qualifying group on Tuesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland, one of four sites where five spots in the Open field were on the line. Also through is Australian Lucas Herbert, who went 69-67 for a score of 8 under par, one stroke better than China's Sampson Zheng and two above Englishmen George Bloor at West Lancashire. A 4-for-2 playoff determined the final two available berths from the English course, which went to Finland's Oliver Lindell and Estonian amateur Richard Teder. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th at the Open Championship in 2022. At the par-72 Dundonald Links, he shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish 36 holes in 7 under par. He was joined by Scotland's Daniel Young, Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, Sweden's Jesper Sandborg and Scottish amateur Connor Graham, who beat countryman Paul O'Hara in a playoff for the fifth and final spot available. The Open Championship is being staged between July 17-20. Lee Westwood will make his first major championship start in three years when he tees it up at the Open later this month at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The 52-year-old Englishman was the medallist in his final qualifying group on Tuesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland, one of four sites where five spots in the Open field were on the line. Also through is Australian Lucas Herbert, who went 69-67 for a score of 8 under par, one stroke better than China's Sampson Zheng and two above Englishmen George Bloor at West Lancashire. A 4-for-2 playoff determined the final two available berths from the English course, which went to Finland's Oliver Lindell and Estonian amateur Richard Teder. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th at the Open Championship in 2022. At the par-72 Dundonald Links, he shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish 36 holes in 7 under par. He was joined by Scotland's Daniel Young, Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, Sweden's Jesper Sandborg and Scottish amateur Connor Graham, who beat countryman Paul O'Hara in a playoff for the fifth and final spot available. The Open Championship is being staged between July 17-20.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Westwood lines up for Open; Aussie Herbert also through
Lee Westwood will make his first major championship start in three years when he tees it up at the Open later this month at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. The 52-year-old Englishman was the medallist in his final qualifying group on Tuesday at Dundonald Links in Scotland, one of four sites where five spots in the Open field were on the line. Also through is Australian Lucas Herbert, who went 69-67 for a score of 8 under par, one stroke better than China's Sampson Zheng and two above Englishmen George Bloor at West Lancashire. A 4-for-2 playoff determined the final two available berths from the English course, which went to Finland's Oliver Lindell and Estonian amateur Richard Teder. Westwood has never won a major but owns 19 top-10s, including a runner-up finish in 2010 and a T4 placement the last time the Open was played at Royal Portrush in 2019. Now with LIV Golf, Westwood has not been eligible for any major since he tied for 34th at the Open Championship in 2022. At the par-72 Dundonald Links, he shot rounds of 70 and 67 to finish 36 holes in 7 under par. He was joined by Scotland's Daniel Young, Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, Sweden's Jesper Sandborg and Scottish amateur Connor Graham, who beat countryman Paul O'Hara in a playoff for the fifth and final spot available. The Open Championship is being staged between July 17-20.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Fifth in LIV points, Sergio Garcia gets his first British Open invite in three years
For the first time since 2022, Sergio Garcia will play in golf's oldest major championship. "The leading non-exempt player inside the top five in the season-long points race will receive a spot in the Open field next month at Royal Portrush," according to LIV Golf. And that player is Sergio Garcia despite finishing 3 over and tied for 25th at the most recent LIV event in Dallas. He checks in fifth in the league's points standing so his spot in the tee sheet in three weeks at Royal Portrush is secured. Garcia tied for 68th in 2022, the last time he played the Open. He had played in every Open from 1998 to 2002 and while he's never won it, he has a pair of runner-up finishes. He's only missed the cut in the British Open four times over the years. Garcia is the 17th LIV golfer to qualify for the 2025 event at Royal Portrush.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Australian Tour de France team has first local GC hope
Ben O'Connor has been confirmed at the first Australian overall contender to lead a team from his country at the Tour de France. Jayco AlUla have announced their eight-rider line-up for the three-week Grand Tour, which starts next Saturday night (AEST) at Lille in northern France. The Australian team, originally known as GreenEDGE, first contested the Tour de France in 2012 and has had several general classification (GC) hopes since in the three-week Grand Tours - the Tour, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. But this is the first time that Australian cycling's only top-tier road team will feature a local GC hope. O'Connor, 29, is their GC contender and Dutch fast man Dylan Groenewegen will contest the sprint stages. Fellow Australian Luke Plapp, who won a stage last month at the Giro, will also make his Tour debut. O'Connor joined Jayco AlUla this season as a proven Grand Tour rider. He finished runner-up last year at the Vuelta, after coming fourth earlier in the season at the Giro. His best Tour finish was fourth in 2021. While this year's Tour is expected to be another duel between Slovenian defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who between them have won the last five editions, O'Connor is a podium contender. Cadel Evans is Australia's only Tour de France winner, making Australian sporting history with his 2011 triumph. He also finished runner-up in '07 and '08, while Richie Porte was third in 2020. Evans and Porte were racing for European teams when they starred at the Tour. O'Connor returned to racing earlier this month at the Tour de Suisse, finishing seventh overall. "We have a really versatile team and I've performed well in Grand Tours in the past so I'll do everything I can to get back to the top five," O'Connor said. "We also have Dylan to go for the sprint stages. We pretty much have all kinds of stages covered. "It's always an exciting time, it's the biggest race, and biggest stress, but it's also the biggest reward." Compatriot Michael Matthews was also supposed to be a key rider in Jayco AlUla's Tour line-up, but he was ruled out this month because of a pulmonary embolism and remains sidelined on medical advice. Jayco AlUla have had a tumultuous year so far. Amid successes such as the stage wins for Plapp and Chris Harper at the Giro, Matthews' health scare is a significant blow. Sprinter Caleb Ewan left the team in difficult circumstances at the start of the year. Team director Matt White, who had been at GreenEDGE since its inception, was stunningly sacked in early May on the eve of the Giro's start. Jayco AlUla's Tour team: O'Connor, Groenewegen, Plapp, Luke Durbridge (Australia), Eddie Dunbar (Ireland), Luka Mezgec (Slovenia), Elmar Reinders (Netherlands), Mauro Schmid (Switzerland). Ben O'Connor has been confirmed at the first Australian overall contender to lead a team from his country at the Tour de France. Jayco AlUla have announced their eight-rider line-up for the three-week Grand Tour, which starts next Saturday night (AEST) at Lille in northern France. The Australian team, originally known as GreenEDGE, first contested the Tour de France in 2012 and has had several general classification (GC) hopes since in the three-week Grand Tours - the Tour, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. But this is the first time that Australian cycling's only top-tier road team will feature a local GC hope. O'Connor, 29, is their GC contender and Dutch fast man Dylan Groenewegen will contest the sprint stages. Fellow Australian Luke Plapp, who won a stage last month at the Giro, will also make his Tour debut. O'Connor joined Jayco AlUla this season as a proven Grand Tour rider. He finished runner-up last year at the Vuelta, after coming fourth earlier in the season at the Giro. His best Tour finish was fourth in 2021. While this year's Tour is expected to be another duel between Slovenian defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who between them have won the last five editions, O'Connor is a podium contender. Cadel Evans is Australia's only Tour de France winner, making Australian sporting history with his 2011 triumph. He also finished runner-up in '07 and '08, while Richie Porte was third in 2020. Evans and Porte were racing for European teams when they starred at the Tour. O'Connor returned to racing earlier this month at the Tour de Suisse, finishing seventh overall. "We have a really versatile team and I've performed well in Grand Tours in the past so I'll do everything I can to get back to the top five," O'Connor said. "We also have Dylan to go for the sprint stages. We pretty much have all kinds of stages covered. "It's always an exciting time, it's the biggest race, and biggest stress, but it's also the biggest reward." Compatriot Michael Matthews was also supposed to be a key rider in Jayco AlUla's Tour line-up, but he was ruled out this month because of a pulmonary embolism and remains sidelined on medical advice. Jayco AlUla have had a tumultuous year so far. Amid successes such as the stage wins for Plapp and Chris Harper at the Giro, Matthews' health scare is a significant blow. Sprinter Caleb Ewan left the team in difficult circumstances at the start of the year. Team director Matt White, who had been at GreenEDGE since its inception, was stunningly sacked in early May on the eve of the Giro's start. Jayco AlUla's Tour team: O'Connor, Groenewegen, Plapp, Luke Durbridge (Australia), Eddie Dunbar (Ireland), Luka Mezgec (Slovenia), Elmar Reinders (Netherlands), Mauro Schmid (Switzerland). Ben O'Connor has been confirmed at the first Australian overall contender to lead a team from his country at the Tour de France. Jayco AlUla have announced their eight-rider line-up for the three-week Grand Tour, which starts next Saturday night (AEST) at Lille in northern France. The Australian team, originally known as GreenEDGE, first contested the Tour de France in 2012 and has had several general classification (GC) hopes since in the three-week Grand Tours - the Tour, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. But this is the first time that Australian cycling's only top-tier road team will feature a local GC hope. O'Connor, 29, is their GC contender and Dutch fast man Dylan Groenewegen will contest the sprint stages. Fellow Australian Luke Plapp, who won a stage last month at the Giro, will also make his Tour debut. O'Connor joined Jayco AlUla this season as a proven Grand Tour rider. He finished runner-up last year at the Vuelta, after coming fourth earlier in the season at the Giro. His best Tour finish was fourth in 2021. While this year's Tour is expected to be another duel between Slovenian defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who between them have won the last five editions, O'Connor is a podium contender. Cadel Evans is Australia's only Tour de France winner, making Australian sporting history with his 2011 triumph. He also finished runner-up in '07 and '08, while Richie Porte was third in 2020. Evans and Porte were racing for European teams when they starred at the Tour. O'Connor returned to racing earlier this month at the Tour de Suisse, finishing seventh overall. "We have a really versatile team and I've performed well in Grand Tours in the past so I'll do everything I can to get back to the top five," O'Connor said. "We also have Dylan to go for the sprint stages. We pretty much have all kinds of stages covered. "It's always an exciting time, it's the biggest race, and biggest stress, but it's also the biggest reward." Compatriot Michael Matthews was also supposed to be a key rider in Jayco AlUla's Tour line-up, but he was ruled out this month because of a pulmonary embolism and remains sidelined on medical advice. Jayco AlUla have had a tumultuous year so far. Amid successes such as the stage wins for Plapp and Chris Harper at the Giro, Matthews' health scare is a significant blow. Sprinter Caleb Ewan left the team in difficult circumstances at the start of the year. Team director Matt White, who had been at GreenEDGE since its inception, was stunningly sacked in early May on the eve of the Giro's start. Jayco AlUla's Tour team: O'Connor, Groenewegen, Plapp, Luke Durbridge (Australia), Eddie Dunbar (Ireland), Luka Mezgec (Slovenia), Elmar Reinders (Netherlands), Mauro Schmid (Switzerland). Ben O'Connor has been confirmed at the first Australian overall contender to lead a team from his country at the Tour de France. Jayco AlUla have announced their eight-rider line-up for the three-week Grand Tour, which starts next Saturday night (AEST) at Lille in northern France. The Australian team, originally known as GreenEDGE, first contested the Tour de France in 2012 and has had several general classification (GC) hopes since in the three-week Grand Tours - the Tour, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. But this is the first time that Australian cycling's only top-tier road team will feature a local GC hope. O'Connor, 29, is their GC contender and Dutch fast man Dylan Groenewegen will contest the sprint stages. Fellow Australian Luke Plapp, who won a stage last month at the Giro, will also make his Tour debut. O'Connor joined Jayco AlUla this season as a proven Grand Tour rider. He finished runner-up last year at the Vuelta, after coming fourth earlier in the season at the Giro. His best Tour finish was fourth in 2021. While this year's Tour is expected to be another duel between Slovenian defending champion Tadej Pogacar and Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who between them have won the last five editions, O'Connor is a podium contender. Cadel Evans is Australia's only Tour de France winner, making Australian sporting history with his 2011 triumph. He also finished runner-up in '07 and '08, while Richie Porte was third in 2020. Evans and Porte were racing for European teams when they starred at the Tour. O'Connor returned to racing earlier this month at the Tour de Suisse, finishing seventh overall. "We have a really versatile team and I've performed well in Grand Tours in the past so I'll do everything I can to get back to the top five," O'Connor said. "We also have Dylan to go for the sprint stages. We pretty much have all kinds of stages covered. "It's always an exciting time, it's the biggest race, and biggest stress, but it's also the biggest reward." Compatriot Michael Matthews was also supposed to be a key rider in Jayco AlUla's Tour line-up, but he was ruled out this month because of a pulmonary embolism and remains sidelined on medical advice. Jayco AlUla have had a tumultuous year so far. Amid successes such as the stage wins for Plapp and Chris Harper at the Giro, Matthews' health scare is a significant blow. Sprinter Caleb Ewan left the team in difficult circumstances at the start of the year. Team director Matt White, who had been at GreenEDGE since its inception, was stunningly sacked in early May on the eve of the Giro's start. Jayco AlUla's Tour team: O'Connor, Groenewegen, Plapp, Luke Durbridge (Australia), Eddie Dunbar (Ireland), Luka Mezgec (Slovenia), Elmar Reinders (Netherlands), Mauro Schmid (Switzerland).
