Tour de France: Ben O’Connor moves back into contention with victory in Tignes

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Stage winner Team AG2R Citroens Ben OConnor of Australia celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Philippe LOPEZ AFP Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZAFP via Getty Images

Ben O’Connor wins stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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LE GRAND BORNAND FRANCE JULY 03 Ben Oconnor of Australia and AG2R Citron Team during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 8 a 1508km stage from Oyonnax to Le GrandBornand LeTour TDF2021 on July 03 2021 in Le Grand Bornand France Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images

Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroen) (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Michael Woods of Canada and Team Israel StartUp Nation Omar Fraile of Spain and Team Astana Premier Tech Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Team Arka Samsic during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m Public Fans LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Michael Woods, Omar Fraile, Nairo Quintana in the breakaway during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Davide Ballerini of Italy and Team Deceuninck QuickStep Harry Sweeny of Australia and Team Lotto Soudal in breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Davide Ballerini and Harry Sweeny during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Michael Woods of Canada and Team Israel StartUp Nation in the Breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Michael Woods stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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The pack rides during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by AnneChristine POUJOULAT AFP Photo by ANNECHRISTINE POUJOULATAFP via Getty Images

Ineos Grenadiers during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Ruben Guerreiro of Portugal and Team EF Education Nippo Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Team Arka Samsic Wout Poels of The Netherlands and Team Bahrain Victorious Polka Dot Mountain Jersey during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Ruben Guerreiro, Nairo Quintana in the breakaway during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT The pack rides during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by AnneChristine POUJOULAT AFP Photo by ANNECHRISTINE POUJOULATAFP via Getty Images

Stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious Anthony Perez of France and Team Cofidis in the chase group during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Sonny Colbrelli, Anthony Perez during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Wout Poels of The Netherlands and Team Bahrain Victorious Polka Dot Mountain Jersey in breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Wout Poels during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team Bahrains Sonny Colbrelli of Italy L rides ahead of Team Cofidis Anthony Perez of France during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

Team Bahrain’s Sonny Colbrelli of Italy rides ahead of Team Cofidis’ Anthony Perez during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Julian Alaphilippe L of France leads a breakaway during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

Julian Alaphilippe during stage 9 (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Davide Ballerini of Italy and Team Deceuninck QuickStep Harry Sweeny of Australia and Team Lotto Soudal in breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Davide Ballerini and Harry Sweeny during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Davide Ballerini of Italy L rides next to Team Lotto Soudals Harry Sweeny of Australia during a breakaway in the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

Davide Ballerini and Harry Sweeny during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Davide Ballerini of Italy and Team Deceuninck QuickStep in breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Davide Ballerini and Harry Sweeny during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Deceuninck QuickStep in the Breakaway during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Julian Alaphilippe during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious Anthony Perez of France and Team Cofidis in the chase group during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Sonny Colbrelli during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Team Arka Samsic during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Nairo Quitana leads the breakaway during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Team Arka Samsic Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Deceuninck QuickStep Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious leads The Peloton during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Riders under the rain during stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Anthony Perez of France and Team Cofidis in the chase group during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Anthony Perez during stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Tadej Pogaar of Slovenia and UAETeam Emirates yellow leader jersey at start during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m Team Presentation LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Tadej Pogacar in the yellow jersey at stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team UAE Emirates Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia C wearing the leader yellow jersey Team Bahrains Wout Poels of Netherlands L wearing best climbers polka dot jersey and Team Deceuninck Quicksteps Mark Cavendish of Great Britain wearing green jersey of best sprinter rides prior the official start of the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

Tadej Pogacar in the yellow jersey stage 9 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Cows during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m Landscape LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Cows out in the mountains at stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Breakaway riders climb a pass during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

The peloton stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Stage winner Team AG2R Citroens Ben OConnor of Australia celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Philippe LOPEZ AFP Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZAFP via Getty Images

Ben O’Connor wins stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team UAE Emirates Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey leads the pack during the 9th stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 144 km between Cluses and Tignes on July 04 2021 Photo by Thomas SAMSON AFP Photo by THOMAS SAMSONAFP via Getty Images

Tadej Pogacar in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Tadej Pogaar of Slovenia and UAETeam Emirates yellow leader jersey Davide Formolo of Italy and UAETeam Emirates during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Marc Hirschi of Switzerland and UAETeam Emirates during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Chris GraythenGetty Images

UAE Team Emirates Marc Hirschi stage 9 Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
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TIGNES FRANCE JULY 04 Ben Oconnor of Australia and AG2R Citron Team stage winner celebrates at arrival during the 108th Tour de France 2021 Stage 9 a 1449km stage from Cluses to Tignes Monte de Tignes 2107m LeTour TDF2021 on July 04 2021 in Tignes France Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images

Ben O’Connor wins stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën) took the biggest win of his career to date at the summit finish of Tignes on stage 9 of the Tour de France, soloing almost the whole length of the 21-kilometre climb to take a win from the breakaway.

He won a battle with Colombian duo Sergio Higuita (EF Education-Nippo) and new mountains classification leader Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) on the Montée des Tignes, flirting with virtual maillot jaune at various points before securing victory after another grim and wet day of racing in the Alps.

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