✍️🇦🇺 A NEW ERA: Ben O’Connor to lead Team Jayco AlUla’s general classification ambitions for 2025 & beyond

Team Jayco AlUla is pleased to confirm the signing of Australian talent Ben O’Connor on a two-year deal with the 28-year-old set to become the squad’s new general classification leader.
 
O’Connor has demonstrated his talent and pedigree on multiple occasions on the world’s biggest stage, with incredible and consistent results over the past years, including two well fought out fourth place finishes overall at the Tour de France (2021) and the Giro d’Italia (2024).
 
Having turned professional back in 2017, the rider from Perth already has a wealth of experience under his belt and the GreenEDGE Cycling management believe he has the right DNA to fit into the team environment and culture, on and off the bike.
 
With potential still inside, Team Jayco AlUla is eager to assist O’Connor to finally reach that Grand Tour overall podium finish after his two close fourth place results, and become the squad’s new general classification leader.

Brent Copeland – General Manager
“With Ben O’Connor we are obviously looking at someone who will fill in that general classification gap with Simon Yates moving on. We feel that O’Connor will fit into the team well, culture wise, which is really important for us. Of course, it is thanks to our team owner Gerry Ryan for his commitment and continued support of Australian Cycling and ensuring Australian riders have a place to grow and excel at the highest level in cycling.

With the general classification, we believe he has room for improvement and with this team we will be able to get the best out of him. It is a very significant and important signing for us for 2025 and we look forward to being able to welcome Ben into the squad soon.”
 
Ben O’Connor
“To be honest, it’s really an idea I’ve always loved; to race as an Aussie and win on an Aussie team. I’m at a point now where I need to deliver, so it’ll be even more special to do it with an Australian set-up. To have the opportunity to race with mates at the top level is rare, and I am just so keen to get stuck in.
 
My ambitions are to stay aggressive, consistent, and hopefully one day change these fourth-place overall finishes at Grand Tours into overall podium placings. Victories are just as important, and throwing the hands up in the air as soon as I can is high on the list. It’s not ‘team Australia’ but it feels like that to represent the only WorldTour Australian cycling team. Excited is an understatement.”

Ben O’Connor
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Nationality: Australian
Age: 28
Key Results:
4^th Tour de France GC (2021)
1^st Tour de France stage 9 (2022)
4^th Giro d’Italia GC (2024)
1^st Giro d’Italia stage 17 (2020)
1^st UAE Tour stage 3 (2024)
2^nd UAE Tour GC (2024)
2^nd Tour of the Alps GC (2024)