After winning the red jersey with a successful long-distance breakaway on Stage 6 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, Ben O’Connor and his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team were on high alert in Stage 10 to protect against similar moves by their rivals.
“In the end it was a perfect scenario, I had a really tough start and it took a long time to get away,” the Australian said in an interview after Stage 10. “A lot of the guys in the top 10 were interested in getting away so I think I managed the start well today.”
“Other teams were trying to defend their positions so we just went full speed downhill and the pace was really fast on the second climb but then we pretty much stopped,” continued O’Connor, delighted to end another day with a red card and come within a whisker of claiming his first Grand Tour victory. “It was important to defend my position.”
But in Stage 11, the battle for the GC is likely to come to the fore again, with Ben O’Connor’s defence of the red jersey being key to the stage. “I think the finale tomorrow will be a bit more decisive,” predicts the race leader. “The final climb is tough so it will be exciting to see.”
2024 Vuelta a Espana Stage 10 Results:
1 Van Aert Wout Team Visma | Lease Bike 180 03:50:47 2 Pacher Quentin Groupama-FDJ 130 + 03 3 Soler Marc UAE Team Emirates 95 + 02:01 4 Lecerf William Junior Soudal Quick-Step 80 + 02:01 5 Holman Juli Alpecin-Deceuninck 60 + 02:01 6 Juaristi Chominuskadi 45 + 05:13 7 Narvaez Jonathan INEOS Grenadiers 40 + 05:31 8 Kyon Stephane Groupama-FDJ 35 + 05:31 9 Bennett George Israel-Premier Tech 30 + 05:31 10 Tejada Harold Astana Kazakhstan Team 25 + 05:31
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