AG2R Citroen team leader Ben O'Connor entered the Tour de France as a contender for the yellow jersey, but injury struck and he had already lost 23:12 to Tadej Pogachar on GC and struggled early on in stage 9.

"I got injured. So I shouldn't be at the back of the bunch," O'Connor explained to Cycling News before stage 9.

The Australian dropped out of the peloton several times in the early kilometers, but returned to the fight after the day's break was established. Given his injury, surviving the race appears to be his top priority.

"I just want to make sure I can make it through today because there's nothing else I can do," he discouraged.

One of the frustrating aspects of O'Connor's injury is that it is purely muscular and therefore invisible to his teammates and competitors.

"It may not seem dramatic because there is no road rash and it is literally just a muscle injury. It might look soft, but it's a muscle injury and there's nothing you can do about it.

As a result, O'Connor can barely pedal on one side.

"I'm pedaling on one leg most of the time," he says. 'So it looks kind of painful, and it looks like I'm losing my mind. But I can't really push."

O'Connor lost four minutes on the cobbles of stage 6 and another nine minutes on Saturday's stage to Lausanne, dropping him well out of contention for the GC ranking after finishing fourth in 2021.

Given his form in recent months, O'Connor feels he is still in good shape for the race and may target mountain stages once his injuries heal.

"I was on the podium at the Dauphiné and I haven't lost my core," he said.

"I'm a little sad I can't ride because I was one of the stronger riders in the race."

Asked if he thought he could recover during the race, O'Connor replied: "If I can finish today, maybe.