Ben O’Connor could also be driving Tirreno-Adriatico for the primary time however the AG2R Citroën rider was nonetheless on the front-foot within the crosswinds of stage 3, making his presence felt among the many general contenders even earlier than the Italian race entered climbing territory.
The stage to Foligno could have nonetheless in the end led to a bunch dash, however the Jumbo-Visma squad of Primož Roglič put the hammer down at round 12km to go and with simply ten kilometres remaining the wedge was being pushed into the splits, with each Roglič and O’Connor distinguished among the many preliminary lead group of 13. There have been nervous moments for a lot of general contenders, with race chief Filippo Ganna and Adam Yates (UAE Crew Emirates) amongst those that rapidly fought their method again whereas the group swelled additional at round 5 kilometres to go because the peloton closed in.
“It was perhaps not the stage for me nevertheless it was onerous on the finish with the crosswinds and I used to be capable of be there, enjoying a bit of bit with the entrance group, nevertheless it got here again collectively,” stated O’Connor after the stage. “It didn’t actually make any distinction ultimately however it’s higher at all times to be on the entrance facet of the break up fairly than behind.”
The bunch re-formed on the 4 kilometre mark and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sprinted to victory, coming off the wheel of an excellent lead out from teammate Mathieu van der Poel. O’Connor completed within the peloton, holding agency at sixteenth in a normal classification which thus far has largely been formed by the opening particular person time trial.
O’Connor is presently 52 seconds behind main rider, Ganna, who is anticipated to battle within the coming climbing phases, however is simply 24 seconds behind second-placed Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) and is inside three seconds of eleventh positioned Roglič.
“I am positively going okay and it is extra vital right this moment that I didn’t lose any time,” O’Connor instructed Cyclingnews. “It will have been candy if I gained some however that’s the way it goes. However fairly eager to do away with these dash finishes, they’re fairly scary.”
The final two phases have been bunch finishes, and there was a sequence of turns so as to add to the strain within the last part of stage 3, however the climbing is now set to ramp up by means of the subsequent three phases. Stage 4 delivers a hilltop end in Tortoreto, then stage 5 packs in 3,800 metres of climbing on the way in which to the end atop Valico di Santa Maria Maddalena and stage 6 delivers 5 categorised climbs earlier than reaching the road in Osimo. The sprinters are usually not prone to get one other alternative till the ultimate stage in San Benedetto del Tronto.
“In the present day was all about, I assume, method and luck and a little bit of energy as nicely,” stated O’Connor. “So hopefully the subsequent three days as soon as we get into hilly terrain it’s a little much less disturbing and hopefully I can do some good finals.”
Even with out gaining any time within the break up on stage 3 the Australian, who got here fourth general on the Tour de France in 2021, appears to be like to have made the fitting choice in switching from Paris-Good to start out at his first Tirreno-Adriatico as a substitute. His presence within the transfer on stage 3 meant he was tackling the race from the entrance foot, the place AG2R Citroën‘s deficit of 1:27 within the group time trial at Paris-Good would have left him squarely on the again foot forward of the climbing phases in France.
“We’re not specialists within the group trial … in order that’s the explanation why I’m right here in Tirreno,” stated O’Connor. “I believe I might do nicely right here.”
