'We can play cards in different ways' – Ben O'Connor flags Australia's range of Worlds options

Ben O'Connor has already won a rainbow jersey this week as part of Australia's mixed relay TTT squad
Ben O'Connor has already won a rainbow jersey this week as part of Australia's mixed relay TTT squad (Image credit: Getty Images)

One rider has seemed to loom over every conversation about the elite men's road race in Zurich this week. After his exhibitions in France and Italy, the focus on Tadej Pogačar's individual gifts at this Road World Championships is understandable, but it would be remiss to overlook the collective strength of some of his opponents on Sunday.

Australia's victory in the mixed relay team time trial in midweek was certainly a useful reminder of their depth, with three members of their elite men's team – Ben O'Connor, Jay Vine and Michael Matthews – taking on the first leg of that winning ride.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

Read more
NICE FRANCE MARCH 15 Ben Oconnor of Australia and Team Jayco AlUla prior to the 83rd Paris Nice 2025 Stage 7 a 1093km stage from Nice to Auron 1603m UCIWT on March 15 2025 in Nice France Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
'The Volta suits me perfectly' - Ben O'Connor determined to put Paris-Nice behind him in Catalunya
Luke Plapp on the attack with Luke Durbridge at the Australian national championships
Following in Richie Porte’s Tour Down Under footsteps – Is this the year Luke Plapp can claim his mentor’s crown?
COULANGES-LES-NEVERS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: Ben O’connor of Australia, Michael Hepburn of Australia, Michael Matthews of Australia, Kelland O’brien of Australia, Mauro Schmid of Switzerland, Max Walscheid of Germany and Team Jayco AlUla compete during the 83rd Paris - Nice 2025, Stage 3 a 28.4km team time trial stage from Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Nevers / #UCIWT / on March 11, 2025 in Coulanges-les-Nevers, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Jayco-AlUla without 'huge engine' Luke Durbridge but still secure second in Paris-Nice team time trial
Australian Road National Championships men's road race at Buninyong in 2024
10 riders to watch at the 2025 Australian Road National Championships in Perth
Laurence Pithie (left) and Chloé Dygert (right) are favourites to win 2025 races for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Who will capitalise on Challambra Crescent? - Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race contenders
Can anyone stop Williams from defending his title and the ochre jersey?
Tour Down Under 2025 - Analysing the contenders
Latest in
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Stage winner Team Visma's British rider James Matthew Brennan celebrates with the yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalonya cycling tour of Catalonya, a 178,3 km loop starting and finishing in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Matthew Brennan adds Limburg Classic, Tour of Romandie to program after Volta a Catalunya breakthrough
Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso sprint at finish line to win the stage 4 at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025
'We are equal' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Primož Roglič realistic after narrow defeat of closest rival Juan Ayuso
Map of women's Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025
Dwars door Vlaanderen Women 2025 Route
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 27 Lorena Wiebes of Netherlands and Team SD Worx Protime celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 8th Womens Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 a 1527km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 27 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Classic Brugge-De Panne Women: Lorena Wiebes takes win number six of 2025
Latest in News
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Stage winner Team Visma's British rider James Matthew Brennan celebrates with the yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalonya cycling tour of Catalonya, a 178,3 km loop starting and finishing in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Matthew Brennan adds Limburg Classic, Tour of Romandie to program after Volta a Catalunya breakthrough
Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso sprint at finish line to win the stage 4 at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025
'We are equal' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Primož Roglič realistic after narrow defeat of closest rival Juan Ayuso
WALLERS FRANCE JULY 06 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates white best young jersey competes passing through a cobblestones sector during to the 109th Tour de France 2022 Stage 5 a 157km stage from Lille to WallersArenberg TDF2022 WorldTour on July 06 2022 in Wallers France Photo by Bernard Papon PoolGetty Images
'He has the engine' - Geraint Thomas has no doubts Tadej Pogačar can conquer 2025 Paris-Roubaix despite lack of experience
French rider of team Visma Lease A Bike Christophe Laporte speaks during a press conference after winning the 118th edition of the 213,9 km Paris-Tours one day cycling race, in Tours, central France on October 6, 2024. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP)
Christophe Laporte misses out on cobbled Classics due to cytomegalovirus