The Australian showed he has the climbing ability to match it with the best in the world
Ben O’Connor’s raw talent was revealed to the world seven years ago, in the Tasmanian wilderness. It was stage two of the Tour of Tasmania, the most gruelling domestic race in Australia, featuring a 120km day from Strathgordon, near Lake Pedder. A breakaway went early, and it featured an unknown youthful face. As the stage continued, the 18-year-old clung on alongside more experienced pro Wesley Sulzberger. On the sprint into New Norfolk, Sulzberger got the better of his breakaway companion. But it was clear that day that O’Connor would not settle for second place for long.
That heroic stint in the breakaway in October 2014 was particularly remarkable because O’Connor had only taken up competitive cycling 10 months earlier. “It’s been a pretty big progression since then,” he laughed at the time. “I used to be a cross-country runner, but I always watched Tour de France on television and found it fascinating so I just gave it a go.”
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