Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R) acknowledged feeling comfortable and without much pressure in his leadership at 79th Tour of Spain because he achieved it in an “unexpected” way after his solo victory in the sixth period that ended Yunquera (Málaga) but it is also “a dream come true.”
“I never thought I would wear the red jersey in Back to Spainso I’m trying to enjoy the moment,” he explained on the first day of the Spanish race break after the move from Granada to Vigo.
The Australian commented that he was feeling “a bit tired” after a first nine stages marked by high temperatures.
“I’m a bit tired because of the heat, but I’m fine to face this second week. I like the race for three weeks and I’m looking forward to the next stages of this Vuelta,” he said.
The huge advantage that the favorites between Coín and Yunquera has placed him in the group of candidates to win this seventy-ninth edition and more than one must regret. “I think though we’ll only know the answer to Madridbut I think some teams should regret what happened.”
After his fourth place in the past Giro d’Italia Now he sees himself with the chance to achieve his first podium in a grand tour, something “I want to do, but if I don’t deserve it I don’t have to suffer disappointment.”
The Austrian presence stands out about the team Felix Gall With him, he described him as very important because “he is a runner with whom I completely agree and I am comfortable. He is very strong and with him we can control the last attacks very well and if we have the opportunity we can . be offensive.”
“Why didn’t he come with me to the top of the Cazorla climb? He was with me almost to the end,” he explained.
O’Connor admitted that he wants to be the final winner in Madrid of the Vuelta on September 8, although there are other riders who have options to achieve it such as “Primoz Roglic, Enric Mas or Carlos Rodríguez among others who I can name it. I will give my best every day.
Source: La Verdad
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