That charge of “failing to attend official ceremonies and failing to meet the 10-minute deadline after the riders crossed the finish line” seemed rather excessive official conduct. At least part of the blame undoubtedly lies with the race organization for not providing a chaperone to march O'Connor from the finish line to the podium a few hundred meters below the summit.
However, O'Connor, who arrived at the Arnuello mix zone before the start of stage 17, endured the ordeal, downplaying the hours he lost descending Lagos de Covadonga and then climbing back up again with a police escort.
“I showered a little late, but I actually got to the hotel at the same time as everyone else, so it wasn't the worst,” O'Connor smiled, but confessed to being a little miffed at the sanction handed down. I didn't skip it on purpose, I didn't choose to be absent. I didn't skip school on purpose, I didn't choose to be absent, but I came back. [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] It's very special to have this leader's jersey and to be able to keep it for this long. If you don't win races, you don't have that chance.”
“And hopefully in the future I will be in a position to fight to win a Grand Tour. I've been near the podium in Grand Tours, but I've never had the chance to wear the jersey. So you're right, it's a special moment for me.”
But with Roglic and Enric Mas looming, it remains to be seen how special this moment will be. Not for the first time this week, O'Connor was asked about his prospects of defending the red jersey to Madrid. 'I mean, probably low,' he said. 'But you never know in cycling.
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