‘We played it as a team perfectly’ - O’Connor revels in Tour de France role reversal

COURCHEVEL FRANCE JULY 19 Ben Oconnor of Australia and Ag2R Citron Team competes in the breakaway during the stage seventeen of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 1657km at stage from SaintGervais MontBlanc to Courchevel UCIWT on July 19 2023 in Courchevel France Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Tour de France 2023: Ben O'Connor rides in front of AG2R Citroën teammate and eventual stage winner Felix Gall in breakaway on stage 17 (Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Ben O’Connor drew a line under his own ambitions and buried himself for teammate Felix Gall in a role reversal that delivered AG2R Citroën a stage win at the Tour de France on Wednesday. 

O’Connor had entered the Tour as team leader, aiming for a top ten finish but dreaming of more, but abandoned that plan after a tough start in the Basque Country where the Australian couldn’t pinpoint what had happened to the form that saw him finish third at the Critérium du Dauphiné.