Australia’s O’Connor in Tour frame
TIGNES: Australian climber Ben O’Connor soared to a high-altitude stage win on the Tour de France on a cold, rainy Sunday that culminated in an energy-sapping 21km ascent to the ski resort of Tignes.
UAE Emirates kept a watchful eye on the main contenders before their leader Tadej Pogacar once again hurt his rivals, strengthening his hold on the Tour lead, while Citroen AG2R’s O’Connor hauled himself into second in the overall standings ahead of yesterday’s rest day.
O’Connor showed no signs of vertigo as he skipped up the final climb near the Italian border, leaving other members of his breakaway group, including Colombian pair Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita, trailing in his wake.
“It’s mind-blowing, it can make your heart stop and it definitely did that to mine,” said a visibly thrilled O’Connor.
This might be July but there was snow visible on the peaks for much of the race and the temperature was in single figures Celsius with rain falling most of the day.
“Conditions were atrocious,” said O’Connor, with riders looking frozen
to the bone at the finish line, many trembling with cold.
Many riders missed the time delay cut and were subsequently disqualified from continuing.
One who didn’t was sprint specialist Mark Cavendish, left weeping with gratitude for his teammates who helped him make the cut.
“I’m so humbled and physically broken,” said Cavendish, who kept the green jersey for best sprinter. “This is the one stage I was afraid of.”
Pogacar once again showed he is currently the strongest of the overall
contenders as he dropped Ineos pair Geraint Thomas and Richie Carapaz with 4km to go, gaining another 30 seconds in his title defence.