'Tactically, he did it really well' - Jayco-AlUla cautiously optimistic for Ben O'Connor in Giro d'Italia after sound strategic performance on Blockhaus

Ben O’Connor delivered a measured and tactically astute performance on the challenging Blockhaus climb during stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia, earning cautious optimism from his Jayco-AlUla team. Although he lost just over a minute to stage winner and race favourite Jonas Vingegaard, O’Connor’s approach was notably different from previous years, where he had been criticised for chasing attacks prematurely. This time, the 30-year-old Australian paced himself carefully, finishing fifth on the stage and maintaining a strong position in the general classification. Jayco-AlUla’s sports director Steve Cummings praised O’Connor’s strategic riding, highlighting that the rider maximised his effort without overreaching, despite losing a few seconds in the final moments due to a minor technical error. O’Connor currently sits seventh overall, 1 minute 15 seconds behind Vingegaard and trailing the race leader Afonso Eulálio by 4 minutes 32 seconds. While Eulálio’s hold on the pink jersey is expected to be short-lived, the team remains focused on day-to-day progress rather than setting fixed long-term targets. Looking ahead, the team is preparing for another significant mountain test on Sunday’s stage 9, which features a summit finish at Corno alle Scale. Cummings emphasised the importance of pacing on this climb, which is classified similarly to the Blockhaus but with a steep final ramp. The stage also presents opportunities for breakaways, though it could be another occasion for Vingegaard to launch an attack as he seeks to consolidate his position before the next major mountain challenge on stage 14. Jayco-AlUla has faced setbacks with the loss of two riders, Andrea Vendrame and Felix Engelhardt, due to injury, which has impacted their ability to contest rolling stages and stage wins. Despite these challenges, the team remains committed to balancing ambitions between overall classification and stage opportunities. Cummings reiterated the importance of O’Connor focusing on fundamentals such as nutrition, calmness, and effort management, believing that consistent execution of these basics will yield the best possible results as the race unfolds.