'Older and wiser' - Ben O'Connor targets Giro d'Italia in 2026

Ben O’Connor will return to the Giro d’Italia in 2026 with the aim of finishing on the podium in Rome. The Australian placed fourth overall on his last appearance at the corsa rosa in 2024.

“The Giro d’Italia always finds our soft spots,” O’Connor said in a statement released by Jayco-AlUla on Tuesday. “Maybe it’s just the Italian allure, or maybe because it was the Grand Tour I always believed I’d perform well at. 

“The 2024 Giro and the fourth place overall was a good result, but no one likes finishing off the podium. I’d love to change that in the future and can’t wait to be back there this year.”

O’Connor made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro in 2018, where he looked on the cusp of a top 10 finish only to crash and break his collarbone with two days remaining. He returned to claim a fine stage win at Madonna di Campiglio in 2020.

Two years ago, O’Connor was in the battle for a podium finish throughout the Giro, but he was affected by illness in the final week of the race, finishing fourth overall. The Australian would go on to place second overall at that year’s Vuelta a España.

O’Connor will face stiff competition for a podium spot in a Giro that will include Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Enric Mas (Movistar).

This year’s Giro, which starts in Bulgaria on May 8, includes a 40km time trial in the second week and a demanding Dolomite tappone on stage 19 ahead of a double ascent of Piancavallo on the penultimate day.

“Having that long crescendo into the final week of big mountains is something that’s always suited my style,” O’Connor said. “And it’s been replicated again for 2026, especially the Dolomiti stage.”

In his debut season at Jayco-AlUla last year, O’Connor targeted the Tour de France, where he placed 11th overall after winning at Courchevel in the final week. His 2026 campaign is built squarely around the Giro, and he began his build-up to the race by lining out at last month’s Tour Down Under.

“Ben has been on the podium in a Grand Tour before,” said Jayco sporting manager Gene Bates. “He was fourth at the Giro a few years ago and so he knows what it takes. This year, he’s older and wiser, and we’re really looking forward to supporting him to achieve the best result he can overall at the Giro.”