Onley the 'introverted extravert' riding high
Who is Oscar Onley?
Those who follow cycling closely will know of Onley's steady progress since taking to the senior ranks in 2023 with his Dutch team.But his journey started in the Scottish Borders, when local club Kelso Wheelers' time trial route passed right by his front door and he got involved.Onley juggled lots of sports as a kid, particularly cross-country running, before committing to the bike.He described himself as "never the best" as a youngster, but as he grew physically his results picked up.His big breakthrough came at the Tour Down Under in 2024 when he won on the finish up Willunga Hill for his first professional victory.The Scot then managed second at the Tour of Britain. Amid all that he had to deal with two broken collarbones due to crashes.This year he has bounced back, and last month climbed on to the podium at the Tour de Suisse, winning stage five in the process.Forged in the rolling hills of the south of Scotland, Onley is most at home when the road gradient makes the legs strain and is based in the high mountains of Andorra.On the big behemoth mountain ranges, the Alps and Pyrenees, he has announced himself to a wider audience with a memorable Tour de France performance.
'It sparks a dream' - Onley reaction to finishing fourth in Tour
Onley told ITV: "We never really had the plan to go for GC [general classification] in the beginning. It was more just see how it goes."To be honest, I've never even thought about a top five in the Tour before, so to get it in my first try in GC is quite incredible and I'm excited for the future."It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races as well as these are the top guys and in top shape in the biggest race. So if I can do it here then why not in other races?"There was no pressure from the team. They've handled that really well because I think as soon as you say you are going for GC, there's a lot more attention on you. I've just taken every day as it's come really and not made any extra stress as the Tour is already stressful enough, just to ride and compete."I'm really happy with how myself and the team have managed these three weeks. I guess this is a really big moment in my career. I don't really realise it yet, but I think just with talking to other riders, going forward now we have something to build on and an exciting project for the future, and it sparks a bit of a dream I guess."
What's next for Onley?
Picnic-Post NL are entered in the seven-stage Tour de Pologne in Poland, which starts on 4 August, though a final entry list for riders is not yet confirmed.The Vuelta a Espana from 23 August is the next major event on the circuit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott give glimpse of 'bittersweet' personal summer amid HGTV turmoil
Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott have given fans a glimpse into their 'bittersweet' personal summer amid the ongoing turmoil at HGTV. The duo recently shared that during the show's hiatus they took their 91-year-old father, Jim, to Scotland - where he was born. They also took their own children, including Drew's young kids - Parker and Piper, along to visit Jim's hometown as he reconnected with his roots. Jonathan was accompanied by fiancée Zooey Deschanel but it is unclear if her kids Elsie and Charlie - to whom he is a stepfather - joined in on the getaway. 'We took our dad back to his hometown, and then we stayed in a castle, and then we went to Munich and Italy and Zurich. So it was fun to travel and get the kids used at a young age to traveling abroad,' Drew shared to People. 'Our dad's 91, so if we go, it's nice to take him too, because he can go back and see his brother and family. 'So, we did a big family reunion there. We had 60 people together and it was a lot of fun.' In July, without warning, HGTV pulled the plug on Bargain Block, Married to Real Estate, and Izzy Does It - with sources telling the Daily Mail more changes are coming. It also delayed the twins' new show titled Chasing the West. It was supposed to come out on July 20 but it was postponed to July 30 amid the ongoing shakeup. Another program of theirs - Don't Hate Your House With the Property Brothers - was meant to begin airing its second season on July 30. But an updated press release stated that season two of the home renovation show will start 'later this year,' with no specific date announced. The Scotts' show Celebrity IOU, however, has managed to stay on its original schedule, premiering on July 9 with guest star Rachel Brosnahan. Chasing the West will see the Property Brothers help families escape the city and acclimate to country life across an eight-episode first season. The brothers grew up on a 160-acre ranch at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. 'It was sort of bittersweet because we could share what we loved about growing up on a ranch with all of these families,' Jonathan told People. 'On the flip side, I miss it. It was so fun to be in the mountains.' Drew added: 'It was like a blast to the past for us. It was nostalgic. We were riding horses every other day, and I haven't ridden in years, so I was sore.' Shortly after the initial raft of HGTV cancellations last month, network sources spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail about the thinking behind the move. 'We had to stop the bleeding,' said the senior source, who claimed that revenues were underperforming and the network needed to act. 'We were hemorrhaging money. So in order to stop the bleeding, we had to have a bloodbath. It was calculated cuts to make things make sense, financially.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Lions writer awards: man of the series, unsung hero and where tourists should go next
Man of series Finn Russell was at the heart of everything the Lions did well. Calm, assured, skilful and accurate from the tee. Chapeau. Try of series Tom Wright, second Test, Melbourne. What a ripper! Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's midfield break split the Lions wide open and Wright's touchdown put his side 23-5 up. Biggest villain Has to be Australia's now-convicted 'mushroom murderer' Erin Patterson. Her shocking court case pushed the Lions way down the news agenda. Unsung hero Jac Morgan. The brave back-rower never started a Test but Wales's solitary representative did himself – and his country – proud. Favourite moment Everything about the second Test was brilliant. The stroll down to the iconic MCG, the pre-match vibe – excellent use of AC/DC's Hells Bells as intro music – followed by a belting game in front of 90,000 fans. This year's cricket Ashes will be fun. Worst moment Idly looking around for my laptop bag only to realise – agh! – I'd left it in a Sydney taxi which was now 25km away. Fortunately, there was a happy ending. This Lions tour was … A reminder that sport is nothing without an audience. The previous Lions tour in South Africa took place behind closed doors; this one was enhanced by up to 40,000 visiting supporters, many of whom have been saving up to make the trip for years. All hail the sea of red. Next stop for Lions should be … To sit down and reimagine what future Lions tours should look like. Australia in 2037 including games in Japan and Fiji? France? South America? Or maybe an oval-ball Ryder Cup equivalent: Europe v the Rest of the World? Before somebody else launches it instead. Man of series Will Skelton, Australia. The cumulative scoreboard reflects that with the 23st second row on the field, the Wallabies comfortably outscored the Lions. The overarching feeling at full-time in Sydney was just what might have happened had he been fit in Brisbane. Try of series Tomos Williams for Lions v Western Force. Williams's second try of the match was a peach. Mack Hansen made the initial break, offloading inside to James Lowe, who found Williams dashing down the wing. The scrum-half exchanged passes with Lowe again before diving in the corner. Such a shame he injured his hamstring in doing so. Biggest villain Not one individual but the TMO – a role occupied by various officials throughout – did not have a great tour. In Sydney on Saturday, Dan Sheehan's blatant illegal clearout on Tom Lynagh went unpunished before a second-half check for the most innocuous of occurrences. Unsung hero Charlie Gamble, Waratahs and First Nations & Pasifika XV. Maybe not unsung given he was named player of the match for the FNP side and was praised for his performance for the Waratahs, but the beauty of tours such as this is watching players such as Gamble rewarded with an unlikely appearance in the series. Alas it didn't happen. Favourite moment Owen Farrell giving his boots to a child who had run on to the pitch in Sydney, only to be led away by security. These are the sorts of gestures made by Farrell that tend to go unnoticed by those who love to slate the only member of this squad with two series wins to his name. Worst moment Sweet Caroline, or something similarly obnoxious, blaring out while players are receiving treatment for worrying looking injuries. It has happened far too often, most recently when James Ryan was knocked cold for a couple of minutes in Sydney. Tone deaf. This Lions tour was … A slow burner and suddenly over too quickly, leaving a lingering sense of frustration that the Wallabies started the Test series so tamely. It did reach a stunning peak at the MCG and it should also be said it is always a stunning country to travel. Next stop for Lions should be … The couch or beach. It is August, the new football season is almost upon us and most of these players – some clearly running on fumes in Sydney – have been going non-step since last September. There are mandated rest periods at the start of next season and the hope is that they are stuck to. Man of series Will Skelton. The return of the Wallabies' lock flipped the series' momentum and he starred again in the third Test. Try of series Tom Wright, second Test. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii lacerated the Lions' midfield with his left foot and when Wright crossed, for a moment, Australia believed. Biggest villain Dan Sheehan. Tom Curry tackling a mid-air Tom Lynagh was egregious but Dan Sheehan's elbow to Lynagh's head was downright ugly. Unsung hero Ellis Genge. The prop was unlucky to be benched after a dominant first Test but helped to turn the second match in Melbourne to secure the series. Favourite moment The sheer drama of the final minute of the second Test, in front of 90,000, won't quickly be forgotten. The controversy made the Wallabies relevant to Australians again. Worst moment The Wallabies were flying at the MCG but Tom Lynagh's fumble and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's infringement both led to tries that handed the Lions the impetus and ultimately the series. This Lions tour was … A reset for Wallabies fans, who can now look to the home 2027 World Cup with optimism. Wait, here come the Springboks, Pumas and All Blacks again. Next stop for Lions should be … To book a Lions Women tour to Australia in 2031.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Dundee sign striker Westley from Burnley
Dundee have signed striker Joe Westley on a three-year deal from Burnley. The 20-year-old joins Steven Pressley's side after spending the second half of last season on loan at Swindon Town where he scored three goals in 17 League Two appearances. Westley came through Burnley's youth academy before spells at AFC Fylde and Rochdale on loan. "I'm buzzing to be here and I can't wait to get going," the forward told club media, external. "It's a really exciting opportunity for me to come to Scotland and challenge myself in a different environment. "David Longwell spoke to my agent about the opportunity of me coming up here, and the way he sold the club to me and what the project was, I was really excited by it, and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down."In England, I've played in the National League and League Two. I could have gone back to Swindon, and I loved my time there, but this felt like the right move for me to progress my career."Michael Mellon was one of my best mates at Burnley, and I spoke to him yesterday and he spoke about how much he loved his time at Dundee, says it was a great club with great fans and that I should definitely take this opportunity."
