O'Connor's helper

Gall: “Red jersey is now the top priority”

Felix Gall is working as a helper at the Vuelta.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Just like last year with Sepp Kuss, the Vuelta could once again end in an unexpected winner. After nine stages, Ben O'Connor leads the classification by a large margin thanks to a solo escape permitted by the top teams. At the weekend, the Australian defended his clear lead with the active help of Felix Gall. However, the Decathlon tandem still has to survive twelve stages, most of them in the mountains. And perhaps the biggest crux awaits on the final day.

Because in the final time trial in Madrid, O'Connor is at a clear disadvantage against Olympic champion Primoz Roglic and Co. and will lose time. Before that, there are several tough climbing tests to pass anyway, starting on Tuesday with a mountain stage in Galicia. During the hot days in Andalusia, O'Connor stayed almost four minutes ahead of Red Bull star Roglic. "I never expected the jersey. I just enjoy it. It's up to others to react now, not me. We'll get the final answer in Madrid," said O'Connor on the first rest day in the no longer so hot north of Spain.

Praise for Gall
He had nothing but praise for his noble helper Gall. "He is very strong. We were very good together on Sunday. With a rider like Felix, you can control mountain top finishes very well. I really like riding with him and we've always got on well. It's cool that we have such success together."

Ben O'Connor in the red jersey

(Bild: AFP/APA/Jorge GUERRERO)

Gall recently made the stronger impression in the mountains than his captain. However, the East Tyrolean remained loyal at O'Connor's side. That will probably remain the case until the end. "The starting position is different now, we have the red jersey with a big lead, that has top priority now. I will support Ben. It's a clear situation," said Gall.

Stage win possible
Nevertheless, he did not completely rule out a possible attack on his own stage win. "The arrivals with shorter final climbs, which are still there, suit me very well. If I have a good day and I get the freedom, I'm convinced that I can compete for the stage win. However, I won't go into an early breakaway group, as was originally planned. That has changed," explained last year's Tour de France stage winner.

O'Connor's condition and, last but not least, the sporting director on the radio will probably decide whether Gall will make a move. Gall himself is still very much in contention in eighth place in the overall classification. "There are still two weeks to go, but I feel good and am also in a good position in the overall classification, but the priority now is Ben's red jersey," said Gall.

His gap to second-placed Roglic is only around one and a half minutes. In addition, Joao Almeida (Covid) and Antonio Tiberi (heat stroke on Sunday), two of the top riders in the leading group, are already out of the race. Lurking not far behind Gall, however, are others such as Mikel Landa and defending champion Kuss.

Surprise winner
Last year, Kuss slipped into the leading role in the then dominant Jumbo team with Jonas Vingegaard and Roglic, contrary to the original strategy. After publicly smiling away their differences, the US American, supported by the top stars, was allowed to take the win ahead of his two stablemates.

Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta in 2023.

(Bild: AFP)

Decathlon sports director Cyrill Dessel also hopes that O'Connor can do the same. "With Ben's stage win and the red jersey, we have already achieved more than we expected. The race is still long. We will try to control it and keep the jersey for as long as possible," said the Frenchman.