Aussie O'Connor roars to stage win at Giro

Australia's Ben O'Connor was left tearfully celebrating the biggest win of his career when he powered away from the field to win the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia, just 24 hours after being agonisingly denied victory in the previous leg.

Ben O'connor of the NTT Pro Cycling Team celebrates his Stage 17 victory at the 2020 Giro d'Italia Source: Getty Images

Having been part of an 18-man breakaway, the talented rider from Subiaco made a decisive solo bid for home with eight kilometres left of the brutal, mountainous 203km slog from Bassano del Grappa.

After nearly six hours in the saddle, the 24-year-old ended up atop Madonna di Campiglio 31 seconds clear of his pursuers for the fourth, and easily the biggest, victory of his career - his first ever in a Grand Tour.

It was a fantastic effort coming so soon after his big push to win the 16th stage in San Daniele del Friuli fell just short when he eventually had to settle for the runner's-up spot behind Jan Tratnik - and it left him full of emotion.