Giro d'Italia: Ben O'Connor 'can't be disappointed' after missing podium

It is often said that fourth place is the worst place to finish a Grand Tour. You're the first driver not to make the podium, but you've probably been knocking on the door the entire race and putting everything into the overall standings only to walk away with no reward at the end.

That's probably what Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) would have felt three weeks ago, confidently proclaiming his goal of finishing on the podium at this Giro d'Italia, but on Sunday evening in Rome, the The Australian did not beat himself up for not having achieved this objective.

“I ended up where I deserved to end up,” O’Connor said. Eurosport after stage 21 in Rome.

Behind an almost predestined winner in Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), O'Connor's battle for the podium was really only with Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), and he finally conceded that they were simply better horsemen.

“Dani was really strong throughout the race, G was also pretty consistent, I just had a few bad days towards the end,” he said.

Learn more: “I felt super strong” – Tadej Pogacar exits Giro d’Italia as improved Grand Tour rider

Despite these bad days, O'Connor rallied on the days he felt good and held on to his fourth place which at times seemed under threat.

“I can't be disappointed because I did my best and I think I put in some really good performances throughout the race which I'm really proud of, the second time trial in particular and yesterday, because yesterday was a good day and if you just look at it from a numerical standpoint, it was very, very solid.

Coming away fourth means O'Connor is yet to finish on a Grand Tour podium, but it's clear the signs are there, and his record in these three-week races is only getting stronger.

“The last two Tour de France have not been ideal, but I was 8th in the Vuelta and 4th in the Tour a few years ago, so I have already performed well, sometimes just Larry, luck or chance decides to hit each other,” he said. .

“But to organize a whole race, it's really rewarding because it's been a while since I've done that on a Grand Tour and I think I had to do that to show the team and myself that it's This is the runner I want, love and want to be.

Although O'Connor did not finish on the final GC podium, he was rewarded with a trip to the podium in Rome as his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team won the team classification after their best performance on the Grand Tour for years.

“For this team, it’s probably the best Giro in its history and certainly the best Giro I’ve participated in,” he said with pride about his team.

“We won two stages, we won the team category, I was fourth in the general classification, and I think people saw us racing and even on the days of opportunity, our guys were always in the boxes, Aurélien [Paret-Peintre]Andrea [Vendrame]Valentine [Paret-Peintre]we have always been there and that is what we can be most proud of.

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