Runner-up in the 2024 Vuelta a Españja, Ben O'Connor, pulls out mid-race before the Angliru climb.
Ben O'Connor Abandons 2025 Vuelta a España During Stage 13
Ben O'Connor, the 2024 Vuelta a España runner-up, has withdrawn from the 2025 race during stage 13 to the Angliru. The Angliru is a challenging mountain pass in the Principality of Asturias, Spain, which is a regular feature in the Vuelta a España.
O'Connor's departure from the race came in the opening phases of the 202-kilometre stage. The Australian rider had serious GC ambitions for the Vuelta a España but was unable to fight for the overall after a crash on the opening day.
In the days leading up to his abandonment, O'Connor was lying 25th overall, well out of the GC battle. The race O'Connor abandoned is the 74th edition of the event, and as of now, Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is the lead favorite and seems set to win the race.
O'Connor's best GC result in a Grand Tour came in the 2024 Vuelta a España, where he finished second overall. He also won a stage during the first week of that race. In the 2024 edition, O'Connor defended the overall lead for a significant portion of the race.
Last year, O'Connor also made headlines by winning the Col de la Loze stage in the Tour de France. However, this year, he ruled himself out of the 2025 World Championships. In the elite men's road race of the 2025 World Championships, Tadej Pogačar emerged victorious.
The 2025 Vuelta a España is being covered extensively by Cyclingnews, with the team providing unlimited access to coverage for subscribers. The Cyclingnews team is covering the race from the Italian Gran Partida through to Madrid.
It's worth noting that no rider left the Vuelta a España 2025 during the 13th stage while attacking on the Angliru. The stage was disrupted by demonstrators who blocked the race, causing delays and accidents, but there is no report of a rider abandoning specifically on the Angliru climb during an attack in that stage.
O'Connor was suffering the consequences of a crash that occurred during the stage to Larra Belagua earlier this week. Despite his withdrawal, O'Connor's performance in the 2024 Vuelta a España and his win in the Tour de France serve as a testament to his talent and potential in the world of cycling.
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