Ben O'Connor
"I have no regrets".
"It was another crazy day. Everyone rode this stage like it was a classic, even though we're in the third week of the Tour de France. The pace was hellish. I'm really happy to be playing a leading role again in this edition, after some more complicated days. In the last kilometer, I tried my luck because I knew it would be difficult to win the sprint. It didn't work out, but at least I have no regrets. I'm feeling much better these days. Felix's victory in Courchevel really freed us up. Now, there's a big mountain stage on Saturday to finish the job collectively and get back to the Champs-Élysées on Sunday with pride."
The news
O'Connor gives AG2R CITROËN its fourth podium of the Tour de France
Ben O'Connor's third place on stage 19 of the Tour de France gives the AG2R CITROËN team a fourth podium finish since the start of this 110th edition.
The Australian climber had already taken third place on stage 10 in Issoire.
For his part, Felix Gall won stage 17 in Courchevel and also took third place on stage 5 in Laruns.
The AG2R CITROËN team also had six top-10 finishes on this Tour de France 2023, with Clément Berthet taking fifth place at the summit of Puy-de-Dôme and Felix Gall seventh in Morzine-Les Portes du Soleil on stage 14.
8
The number
On the evening of stage 19, Felix Gall is still eighth overall. There's still a big battle to be fought with the finish at Le Markstein to fulfill our objective of finishing in the top 10 of this Tour de France," explains Vincent Lavenu, manager of the AG2R CITROËN team. Felix is also second in the best climber classification, just six points behind the leader. We'll have to keep the same state of mind, with our boys being offensive and uninhibited."
