Tour de France 2025: Aussie Ben O’Connor in top 20 at halfway mark

Ben O’Connor remains firmly in contention for a podium at the halfway point of the 2025 Tour de France, holding a top-20 spot after a strong first half of the race.

Ben O'Connor sits in the top 20 at the halfway point of the Tour. Picture: AFP

The Tour de France has reached Toulouse and the riders have definitely earned their first rest day with ferocious pace as we near the halfway point of the three-week race.

The battle for the Maillot Jaune has been fascinating.

Tadej Pogacar has been happy to pass it to anyone who is not a real threat for his title.

It takes pressure off his UAE Emirates squad, slightly depleted with the withdrawal of the champion rider’s right-hand man Joao Almeida.

Ben Healy is in yellow. Picture: AFP

Irishman Ben Healy proved again that he is the Energiser bunny with a dogged performance to snatch the yellow jersey.

Former team leader of Jayco AlUla, Simon Yates – now right hand man for Vingegaard at Visma Lease a Bike – was too strong and rode to victory on stage 10.

But it was the current leader of the Aussie squad, Ben O’Connor, who got hearts pumping.

He showed that he is finally recovering from his injuries on his spectacular stage 1

crash.

Ben was strong in the breakaway all day and only faded slightly in the final kilometre to

finish fourth.

“It’s been a roller coaster of a tour in many ways,” O’Connor said.

“Both physically and emotionally.

“But I’m feeling stronger as each day goes on and I’m looking forward to the bigger mountains coming up.”

Luke Plapp (right) finishing stage 6. Picture: Getty

Teammate Luke Plapp is also coming good and will be a chance to get into a breakaway over the next week.

“I’ve been struggling for a few days but I’m feeling good now and looking forward to the challenge,” Plapp said.

As good as the race for yellow has been, it’s this Thursday and Friday that will show the strongest and expose the challengers.

Thursday’s 180km stage to the summit of Hautacam is brutal and Vingegaard and his Visma Lease a Bike team must try every trick in the book to isolate Pogacar.

But Friday’s individual time trial, although only 10km long, is a monster and virtually all uphill.

In the time trial, called the race of truth, there are no team tactics.

The legs do the talking and Pogacar seems to have the loudest voice at the moment.

Kaden Groves (Alpecin – Deceuninck) finishes third behind Lidl-Trek's Italian rider Jonathan Milan and Belgian rider Wout van Aert. Picture: AFP

It hasn’t been a brilliant tour for the Aussies so far, but two third placings – Kaden Groves in a solid sprint on stage 3 and a wonderful ride by Michael Storer to take third spot on stage 6 – have been highlights.

As the race goes on Groves will get closer to the other sprinters.

Storer proved with his 10th overall at the Giro that he is capable of challenging in the mountains in the final week.

Harry Sweeny leads a breakaway on the 10th stage. Picture: AFP

Harry Sweeny has been fantastic with EF Education-Easy Post.

His team now has the Maillot Jaune and Sweeny’s going to be very busy in the next couple of days trying to keep that jersey on his teammate Healy’s back.

* Former pro cyclist and veteran commentator John Trevorrow is on the ground in France, bringing expert insights and updates on the Aussie riders throughout the Tour for CODE Sports.

Originally published as Tour de France 2025: Aussie Ben O’Connor in top 20 at halfway mark