Ben O’Connor signed by Eddie Dunbar’s Team Jayco AlUla as GC man

Ben O’Connor, the Australian rider who has finished 4th in both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia and won stages in those races, has joined Team Jayco AlUla on a new two-year contract. The team says he has been signed as a Grand Tour general classification leader.

O’Connor (28) joins the team from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale and will team up with general classification rider, and ace climber, Eddie Dunbar. Ireland’s Dunbar is currently in the second season of a three-year contract with the Australian World Tour squad.

The move shouldn’t hugely change things for Dunbar, 7th overall at last year’s Giro, as O’Connor is simply replacing Simon Yates, the team’s current clear leader who is moving on at the end of the season after spending all 11 of his pro years with the team.

“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,” said Team Jayco AlUla general manager Brent Copeland.

“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 said he was very much looking forward, as an Australian, to joining up with a team with such a clear Australian identity.

“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,” he said.

“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 World Tour Australian cycling team. Excited is an understatement.”