Ben O’Connor is set to lead the Jayco-AlUla team at the Santos Tour Down Under, scheduled from January 20 to January 25, 2026. This marks the opening WorldTour race of the season, and O’Connor aims to make a significant impact on his home turf. The Australian squad last secured victory in this prestigious event in 2019 with Daryl Impey, but with O’Connor’s strong track record, this year presents a promising opportunity.
According to Stuart O’Grady, race director of the Tour Down Under, the challenging route will complement O’Connor’s climbing skills. He noted that the team is expected to be robust, strategically aiming for the coveted Santos Ochre Leaders Jersey. The event will kick off with a prologue in the city centre, followed by stages that include two climbs up the Corkscrew and three ascents of Old Willunga Hill. The final day promises to be particularly demanding, featuring seven passes of the category two Stirling climb, creating an exciting finish likely to keep the general classification competitive until the end.
O’Connor’s connection to the Tour Down Under runs deep; it was the site of his first WorldTour race back in 2017 with Dimension Data. He displayed considerable talent early on, finishing seventh in the youth classification and 20th overall. Since then, he has participated in the event three additional times, achieving his best overall result of sixth place in 2023. His transition to Jayco-AlUla in 2025 has heightened expectations, especially as the Australian summer racing season plays out in familiar territory.
Before the Tour Down Under, O’Connor will compete in the Australian Road National Championships in Perth. He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming race, stating, “It’s one of the best races of the year, a lot of people can back that up being centralised in the middle of the city with this big festival atmosphere.” He added, “Riding with Team Jayco-AlUla there is a responsibility to perform, so I want to be ready and switched on.”
O’Connor, who secured a stage victory at the Tour de France this year, has expressed his aspiration to stand on the podium in Adelaide. While the Tour Down Under does not feature the long climbs typical of Grand Tour stages, the 2026 course will offer several opportunities for climbers. He specifically highlighted the Uraidla stage, where an extended climb up the Corkscrew presents a different challenge. “It makes the climb 2 km longer and it’s quite different going from a 5-8 to a 10-13 minute effort, so it does suit me a bit better,” O’Connor noted.
The final day at Stirling is expected to be particularly relentless. O’Connor anticipates that fatigue will play a significant role, stating, “Nothing is too steep but I’m thinking things can get pretty out of hand later in the laps.” The nature of the circuit encourages aggressive racing, especially on the concluding stage, where riders can push their limits.
As the countdown to the Santos Tour Down Under begins, all eyes will be on Ben O’Connor and his performance as he strives to make his mark in front of a home crowd. The anticipation for this event continues to build, promising an exhilarating start to the WorldTour season.
