Ben O’Connor left wondering after miscued attacks at Vuelta a España

ALTO DEL PIORNAL SPAIN SEPTEMBER 08 LR Thymen Arensman of Netherlands and Team DSM and Ben Alexander Oconnor of Australia and AG2R Citren Team compete during the 77th Tour of Spain 2022 Stage 18 a 192km stage from Trujillo to Alto del Piornal 1163m LaVuelta22 WorldTour on September 08 2022 in Alto del Piornal Caceres Spain Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroën) during stage 18 of the Vuelta a España 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Thereabouts but not there. Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) was his usual communicative self when he slowed down after the finish of stage 18 of the Vuelta a España at El Piornal to talk to media, but he pulled no punches while expressing  thoughts that his solid performance could have been a more outstanding one.

Seventh in a small group of GC contenders and top climbers when he crossed the line 13 seconds behind stage winner Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), O’Connor had delivered some sizzling attacks late on the stage but all had come to naught.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.