Ben O’Connor undeniably began building his journey to success on the roads of the Giro d’Italia. His debut in a Grand Tour, as a promising 23-year-old, came at the Corsa Rosa, and his first major victory also arrived on Italian roads, two years later.
It was the “Covid Giro”, held in October, and the Australian took victory at a finish that evokes both good and bad memories for Italian fans: Madonna di Campiglio (this is where the late Marco Pantani was disqualified during the 1999 Giro d’Italia). For O’Connor, however, it could not have been a sweeter stage. Already the day before, on the fraction finishing in San Daniele del Friuli, he had spent over 200 km in the breakaway, only to be beaten on the line by Jan Tratnik. Undeterred, he tried again the following day and, this time, the route suited him better, with the summit finish at Madonna di Campiglio playing to his strengths as a climber.
“I’m a completely different person compared to the one who won that stage,” O’Connor recalls. “I certainly didn’t have the expectations and pressure I put on myself today. There was potential, that’s for sure, but I had no idea what would come next”.
A steady rise
For the Australian born in the Italian town of Subiaco, this marked the beginning of a journey that has led him, among other things, to become runner-up at the 2024 World Championships, beaten only by the unstoppable Tadej Pogačar.
“I’ve improved year after year: 4th at both the Tour and the Giro, a podium at the Vuelta, and stage wins in all three Grand Tours. But my mindset hasn’t changed: I always try to raise the bar and improve. And it will be the same at the next Giro: I’ll try to do better than the last time I raced it.”
O’Connor will be among the riders targeting a podium finish at the 2026 Giro. The last time he rode the Corsa Rosa, in 2024 – his best season, which also included 2nd place at the Vuelta – he finished 4th, not far from the podium and from Geraint Thomas in third place.
“If 4th place is what I have in my legs, then I’ll be happy with that result,” says the Jayco AlUla rider. “But I’d like to interpret the race better than I did two years ago. I was unwell in the final week and couldn’t do what I had planned. I’d like to have a proper third week, the way I like to race, instead of just trying to limit losses. In Val Gardena and on Passo Brocon I suffered a lot – those were really tough days – even if I managed to recover a bit for the Monte Grappa stage”.
