Ben O'Connor
Born on 25 November 1995 in Perth, Western Australia, Ben O'Connor is one of Australia's leading Grand Tour riders, racing for Team Jayco AlUla. A relentless climber and aggressive racer, O'Connor finished runner-up at the 2024 Vuelta a España and took the silver medal at the 2024 World Championships road race, and he has won mountain stages at the Tour de France in both 2021 and 2025. Known for his fearless, attacking style, O'Connor is a consistent threat in the high mountains. Find Ben O'Connor's latest results, stats and race calendar on this page.
Biography of pro cyclist Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor is an Australian climber and stage racer who has established himself as a regular contender at the sport's biggest events. His career has been defined by bold, long-range attacks and by a remarkable run of high finishes at Grand Tours and one-day races alike.
Now riding for the Australian-registered Team Jayco AlUla, O'Connor combines genuine Grand Tour ambition with the willingness to take risks that makes him one of the most watchable riders in the peloton.
Early life and rise from Perth
O'Connor grew up in the Perth area of Western Australia, with a background in cross-country running before he discovered cycling relatively late, entering his first bike race as a teenager. He progressed quickly through the Australian domestic scene, racing in Asia and for the country's leading domestic teams before earning his first WorldTour contract.
That late start did little to hold him back. Within a few seasons he had developed into a climber capable of competing at the front of Grand Tours, and his ambition and work ethic became defining features of his rise.
Grand Tour breakthrough and signature results
O'Connor first announced himself on the biggest stage with a solo mountain stage win at the Tour de France in 2021, taking victory in Tignes on the way to a high overall finish. His biggest result came at the 2024 Vuelta a España, where he seized the leader's red jersey with a long-range win and held the overall lead deep into the race before finishing second overall, the standout result of his career.
That same season he added a silver medal at the World Championships road race, finishing behind only the dominant Tadej Pogačar, confirming his status as one of the most consistent performers in the peloton. In 2025, in his first year with Team Jayco AlUla, O'Connor produced another marquee result, soloing to victory on the queen stage of the Tour de France atop the Col de la Loze, the race's highest summit finish.
Rider profile: strengths and style
O'Connor is a strong climber who races aggressively, often launching from distance rather than waiting for the final ramps. He thrives on hard, mountainous parcours and on days that suit the breakaway, and he has the engine to back up his attacks across three-week races. While not a pure time trial specialist, his climbing and his attacking instinct make him a perennial threat both for stage wins and for high overall placings at Grand Tours.
Personal life
O'Connor is a proud Western Australian who came to cycling from a running background, a path that has shaped his durable, all-or-nothing racing style. He is known in the peloton for his outspoken honesty and his competitive drive.
Records and milestones
- Runner-up overall at the Vuelta a España (2024)
- Silver medal at the World Championships road race (2024)
- Stage winner at the Tour de France (Tignes, 2021)
- Stage winner at the Tour de France (Col de la Loze, 2025)
- Wore the leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a España (2024)
- Rides for Team Jayco AlUla
What's next for Ben O'Connor?
With Team Jayco AlUla built around his Grand Tour ambitions, O'Connor will continue to target the overall classifications and the biggest mountain stages at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. After a runner-up Grand Tour finish and major stage wins, his goal remains to convert his climbing strength and attacking style into the very highest results. Few riders in the bunch are as willing to gamble for glory.
