Ben O’Connor surprises in the second time trial of the Giro d’Italia 2024. A small masterpiece that of the Australian climber in Desenzano del Garda, where he crosses the finish line with the seventh final time, very close to specialists and direct rivals such as Geraint Thomas and Antonio Tiberi, to whom he concedes just eleven and six seconds, thus gaining on practically all the other men in the rankings, starting with Daniel Martinez, to whom he recovers twenty seconds, thus bringing himself to just 40 seconds from the podium. Looking ahead to a week in which there is no shortage of opportunities, for the leader of Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale there are the premises to do something big.

“I think I did a very good performance,” he commented to our microphones after the finish, “I really gave it my all. Today I raced with 62, it was my first time, it wrecked my legs but on a day like this it was obviously needed. I didn’t feel great, but I think I went pretty fast considering the time I did.”

Thus, for the leader of the transalpine formation comes confirmation of the remarkable improvements in a discipline that is fundamental for being able to cultivate high ranking ambitions. “The work done this winter has paid off – he rejoices – All year I’m doing well, although at Tirreno I wasn’t able to show it because of the rain. It’s good to see these improvements, which allow me not to lose much from the best, with the exception of people like Jonas and Pogacar, who are the strongest. But I can definitely be satisfied with this performance.”