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Tour de France: Aussie Ben O’Connor wins
Updated On: 05 July, 2021 08:05 AM IST | Tignes (France) | AFP
He would also insist that any hopes he would fade in the final weeks because his team is weaker than others were misplaced. "Who is stronger than us?" Pogacar asked. "The guys do a fantastic job, I`m wearing the yellow, remember."
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Stage winner Team AG2R Citroen`s Ben O`Connor of Australia celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 144 km between Cluses and Tignes. Pic/AFP
Australian climber Ben O`Connor soared to a high-altitude stage win on the Tour de France on a cold, rainy Sunday that culminated in an energy-sapping 21km ascent to the ski resort of Tignes. UAE Emirates kept a watchful eye on the main contenders before their leader Tadej Pogacar once again hurt his rivals, strengthening his hold on the Tour lead, while Citroen AG2R`s O`Connor hauled himself into second in the overall standings. O`Connor showed no signs of vertigo as he skipped up the final climb near the Italian border, leaving other members of his breakaway group, including Colombian pair Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita, trailing in his wake.
"It`s mind-blowing, it can make your heart stop and it definitely did that to mine," said a visibly thrilled O`Connor. This might be July but there was snow visible on the peaks for much of the race and the temperature was in single figures Celsius with rain falling most of the day. "Conditions were atrocious," said O`Connor, with riders looking frozen to the bone at the finish line, many trembling with cold. Many riders missed the time delay cut and were subsequently disqualified from continuing. One who didn`t was sprint specialist Mark Cavendish, left weeping with gratitude for his teammates who helped him make the cut. "I`m so humbled and physically broken," said Cavendish, who kept the green jersey for best sprinter.
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