"Ben O'Connor celebrates completion of today's task with a triumphant victory in the Tour de France"
Ben O'Connor Delivers Epic Solo Victory on the Col de la Loze at the 2025 Tour de France
Ben O'Connor, the Aussie rider for Jayco AlUla, claimed a remarkable solo victory on Stage 18 of the 2025 Tour de France, a grueling summit finish at the Col de la Loze. This triumph marked his second Tour de France stage victory and Jayco AlUla’s first in 2025 [1][2][3][4].
The stage, which featured three hors catégorie climbs including Glandon, Madeleine, and La Loze, was a test of endurance and tactical acumen. O'Connor, who has a reputation for winning solo from the break and by a large margin, attacked with 42 km remaining, dropped his last breakaway companion Einer Rubio with 16 km to go, and maintained a decisive gap to hold off general classification favorites Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, finishing 1 minute 45 seconds ahead of Pogačar [1][2][5].
The win was a redemption for O'Connor, who had endured a challenging start to the Tour in 2025. After a crash on Stage 1 that cost him time and took him out of contention for the overall classification, his team remained focused on achievable goals, emphasizing process and controlling what they could [1][2].
O'Connor's decision to attack from the bottom of the valley was discussed with his team director, Mat Hayman. The key strategy involved the cooperation of O'Connor with Matteo Jorgenson of Visma-Lease a Bike [6].
Prior to joining Jayco AlUla in 2025, O'Connor had competed for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. His previous achievements include a second place at the Vuelta a España and the World Championships, and a fourth place at the Giro d'Italia in the 2024 season [7].
Upon securing his victory on the Col de la Loze, O'Connor dedicated the win to everyone on his team. As an Aussie rider on an Aussie team, this victory was a source of great pride for him [8]. The stage win further solidified O'Connor’s reputation as a formidable competitor in the world of cycling [3][4][5].
The final mountain stage to La Plagne and the race to Paris remained highly competitive, with fierce battles for overall podium positions and the white jersey among other contenders such as Oscar Onley and Florian Lipowitz [1].
[1] Cyclingnews.com [2] VeloNews.com [3] CyclingTips.com [4] The Guardian [5] BBC Sport [6] Velocious.cc [7] Team Jayco AlUla [8] SBS News Australia
Sports competition was fierce during Stage 18 of the 2025 Tour de France, as evidenced by Ben O'Connor's epic solo victory on the Col de la Loze. Cycling, a sport that demands endurance and tactical acumen, witnessed another remarkable achievement by O'Connor, who has a history of winning solo from the break and by a large margin.
