Australian Kelland O’Brien deemed ‘a real fighter’ as he rides into Foix finish more than eight minutes after stage 4 time limit to end Tour de France debut

The start on the first full day in France for the Tour was marked by temperatures reaching 38°C and as there was no shortage of sunshine or climbing, a repetition of ascents with four of them categorised. It was a day for the breakaway, as a group of 10 emerged from an eager group of 34 who stole away in the opening 10km.

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Only one Jayco-AlUla rider made the first bunch, Michael Matthews, who was able to lead the chasers at the end for 11th place on the stage. Meanwhile, O’Brien’s ride became one of plain survival and not getting into a team car along the way.

On stage 2, O’Brien was involved in an eight-rider pileup just 6km into that contest. He managed to remount and ride, but finished more than 17 minutes behind winner Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), only four riders taking longer. The next mountain day saw him off the pace by 38 minutes as he was the next-to-last rider to cross the finish in Les Angles.

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On Tuesday, O’Brien could not keep pace with a trio of Tudor Pro riders who tagged on to the back of the race, and once across the final climb and still outside Foix, the time limit had been reached at 15% from the winning time, or 37:37 back of Pedersen. O’Brien still pedalled on for another eight-plus minutes for pride in knowing he reached the finish line.