Ben O'Connor Stuns with Heroic Stage 18 Victory in the 2025 Tour de France
Today in the Tour de France, we witnessed one of the most compelling and gutsy rides of this year's race—an absolutely majestic performance from Australia's Ben O'Connor. Stage 18, already billed as the queen stage with the brutal Col de la Loze finish, became the backdrop for O'Connor's defining moment. After a difficult start to the season, he roared back with a stage win that will be talked about for years.
From early on, it was clear he meant business. He got into the breakaway with Ruben Guerreiro Rubio and Matteo Jorgenson, and as the terrain steepened, the Aussie made his move. With just under 16 kilometers to go, O’Connor launched a powerful attack on Rubio, dropped him, and went solo. The peloton, including heavyweights like Pogacar and Vingegaard, was still over three minutes behind. And while the GC group waited for someone—anyone—to ignite a chase, O'Connor was riding his heart out up the towering climb.
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What made this even more special was the composure he showed in the final kilometers. The Col de la Loze is relentless—climbing above 2,300 meters with cruel gradients. It’s a mountain that broke Pogacar back in 2023. But O’Connor didn’t crack. He stayed strong, held off any threat from behind, and crossed the finish line with a mix of pain and triumph etched across his face. This was no fluke. It was calculated, brave, and executed to perfection.
This marks his second career Tour stage win, but many are already calling it his greatest. Four years ago, he stormed to victory at Tignes with a five-minute solo ride. Today’s win, however, came against the very best climbers in the world, on one of the hardest climbs of the modern era. That alone makes it legendary.
As for the GC battle, Pogacar remains in control. He dropped Vingegaard and Onley near the summit and gained more time overall—he now leads the Dane by over four minutes. Vingegaard did try to attack, but it was short-lived. He later admitted it was one of the toughest days he’s ever had on a bike. Meanwhile, Lipowitz managed to cling to his third place on the podium by just seconds, with Onley breathing down his neck.
But let’s be honest—for one day, the yellow jersey battle faded into the background. Today belonged to Ben O'Connor. After a year of setbacks, he reminded everyone why he's still a serious force in the peloton. This wasn’t just a stage win. It was a personal redemption, a masterclass in courage, and a story every cycling fan will remember.
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