AG2R Citroën's key riders update us: O'Connor doesn't want to be too hard on himself, Gall is luxury helper
Cycling
Ben O'Connor and press conferences, it may not be an ideal combination. On Friday, he stood alongside the entire AG2R Citroën team, facing the journalists, but the atmosphere seemed somewhat uncomfortable at times. IDLProCycling.com took part in the event!
As an Australian in his third year with a French team, O'Connor can understand a bit of French but still struggles to speak it fluently. When a journalist from France asks him a question, an awkward situation arises. The Aussie, who was quietly gazing ahead, puts on headphones and then gets into gear.
"Last year, after a podium finish in the Critérium du Dauphiné, I couldn't showcase my abilities in the Tour, but hopefully, I can do it this year. The transition from the Dauphiné to the Tour is not that big; you can only make limited physical improvements in two and a half weeks," O'Connor said. He finished third in the French preparatory race this year.
In 2022, he crashed in the second stage, but the challenging start of this season is seen as an advantage by the Australian. "You could say it starts with a bang. That's easier for me than last year when it was very technical and anything could go wrong. This is mentally much easier, although there's no script for the first day. Anything can happen on Saturday."
According to O'Connor, he has learned how to be a team leader. "In 2021, I was already sort of a leader, but I didn't realize it myself," he reflects on his fourth-place finish in the Tour de France. "Last year, I was in the same position as now, but I learned from that disappointment. The Tour is the biggest race in the world, but life goes on regardless. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself, that's the main thing I want to improve for this edition."
O'Connor thinks there will always be two AG2R riders among best climbers
He can already count on a strong team. "I think this is the best support I've ever had. Aurélien Paret-Peintre has won a stage in the Giro, Clément Berthet keeps improving, and Felix Gall is now among the best climbers in the world. At least one of them will surely be with me at any given time, even if there are only ten riders left."
IDLProCycling.com was curious to know if Gall thinks he can surprise himself again in this Tour edition, after his strong performances in the Tour de Suisse. "I felt really good in Switzerland, but if I can perform at that same level in the Tour, I would already be surprised," answered the Austrian. "However, my main goal is to support Ben as best as possible, and then we can see later if I can get the freedom to go for a stage win."
Il Lombardia 2024
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Eleven out of eleven for Van der Poel? Wouldn't surprise Van Gucht and Herygers at all: "A master at work"
Cyclo-cross rankings 2024/2025 | Vanthourenhout keeps World Cup lead, Alvarado moves up
Cyclo-cross specialists watch in awe at Van der Poel: "He can make many look foolish in various disciplines"
Latest Cycling News
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Eleven out of eleven for Van der Poel? Wouldn't surprise Van Gucht and Herygers at all: "A master at work"
Cyclo-cross rankings 2024/2025 | Vanthourenhout keeps World Cup lead, Alvarado moves up
Cyclo-cross specialists watch in awe at Van der Poel: "He can make many look foolish in various disciplines"
Popular Cycling News
Lance Armstrong refused to speak with Tom Boonen for years: "And I was only 20 years old, you know..."
Meanwhile in the peloton | Good news for Lars van den Berg: "But the road to the top is still long"
Cycling kits 2025: Movistar and Jayco AlUla embrace bold new designs, Bardiani revamps with focus on detail
Cyclo-cross rankings 2024/2025 | Vanthourenhout keeps World Cup lead, Alvarado moves up
Preview Superprestige Mol 2024 | Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert finally go head-to-head
Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024