Latest news with #ScottishCycling
BBC News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Onley the 'introverted extravert' riding high
Team Picnic-Post NL describe, external Oscar Onley as "an introverted extrovert" who enjoys "lo-fi rap vibes", playing golf and eating Cycling reported, external how he "would be targeting stages, with the general classification being a secondary aim" in his second Tour de finishing fourth overall in the standings, the 22-year-old from Kelso told how his achievement had sparked "a dream".By matching the achievement of compatriot Philippa York (then known as Robert Millar) in 1984, Onley equalled the best-ever finish by a Scottish who is the new exciting name in British cycling? And where can he go from here? 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 his journey started in the Scottish Borders, when local club Kelso Wheelers' time trial route passed right by his front door and he got juggled lots of sports as a kid, particularly cross-country running, before committing to the described himself as "never the best" as a youngster, but as he grew physically his results picked big breakthrough came at the Tour Down Under in 2024 when he won on the finish up Willunga Hill for his first professional Scot then managed second at the Tour of Britain. Amid all that he had to deal with two broken collarbones due to year he has bounced back, and last month climbed on to the podium at the Tour de Suisse, winning stage five in the 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 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 Vuelta a Espana from 23 August is the next major event on the circuit.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Paralympian Callum Deboys on his bike and chasing Commie Games glory
The visit of paralympic skier Scott Meenagh during Deboys' long hospital convalescence sparked a conversation and planted a seed. His rehabilitation programme saw him try cross-country skiing and from there it became his new passion and obsession. Less than five years after that terrible road accident, Deboys was representing Team GB at the 2022 Paralympics in Beijing. There would be a further brush with adversity for the man from the Ayrshire village of Kirkmichael when he lost his funding and couldn't continue in winter sports. Again, though, he spotted it as an opportunity rather than a crisis, ditching the skis for a bike where he has again quickly progressed through the ranks with both Scottish and British Cycling. The 28-year-old is now setting his sights on representing Team Scotland for the first time after eight para-cycling events were included in next year's Commonwealth Games. As a regular visitor to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the thought of returning there to represent his country is serving as powerful motivation. 'It's going to be a huge target for me next year,' said the C2 rider. 'I'm hungry for it. I'm ready to go. I didn't think I'd be able to get an opportunity to race at a Commie Games but now that the para events have been included, it's a real exciting prospect. 'I absolutely love the velodrome. It's just a good opportunity to get on track and brush elbows with people when you're racing. It's all very close. I train there twice a week with Scottish Cycling. We have a really good programme here and there are loads of opportunities within Scotland to get on track. I also race track league on Friday night and then we'll have different competitions throughout the year. 'I'm pretty much at the velodrome every single week. As a Scottish athlete, we're incredibly lucky and incredibly fortunate that we have this venue here. And for it to be hosting the Commie Games is a real opportunity. Obviously getting to the Paralympics is such a huge achievement but getting to represent Scotland would be a real honour.' Deboys was still focusing on skiing rather than cycling as the previous Commonwealth Games unfolded in 2022 but he has repeatedly shown himself capable of adapting quickly to new challenges. 'Moving from snow sports, my original sport was all upper body so now it's changed to all lower body,' he revealed 'I've pretty much had to throw my training in a full 180. But it's a really exciting opportunity to change sports and have different experiences. 'I'm fully committed to cycling now. At the moment I'm on the British Cycling Foundation squad so I can't go full-time cycling just yet. I still have to work alongside training so it's a real challenge to balance everything. But I am 100% in on cycling.' Cycling had been a part of Deboys' life growing up but it was only after the accident that he started to take it more seriously. 'I've always cycled but it wasn't really until after my accident, until I lost my leg, that I started cycling properly,' he adds. 'I cycled all the way through my skiing career just as a way of cross-training. 'I've always wanted to explore cycling a little bit more. But because skiing is so intense and we were away for the majority of the year, it wasn't really doable until we lost our funding after Beijing. And then I saw this opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. 'I do a combination of road and track. As a para-athlete, you can aim to be a jack of all trades, master of them all.' Deboys' dark humour and ability to see the positive in any situation extends to cycling with only one leg. 'Not having my left leg going around left corners, I don't have a problem with pedal strike or hitting my crank off the ground, so I can batter my bike in at left corners,' he reveals. 'I raced in Edinburgh one time and pretty much dropped a full able-bodied field on every single left-hand corner just because I can keep pedalling around it and they couldn't.' The former Trump Turnberry pastry chef made further headlines a few years ago when he got the chance to impress Gordon Ramsay with his skills on his TV series Next Level Chef. But Deboys says he's finished with cooking for now. 'I hung up my apron a few years ago,' he reveals. 'That ship has sailed. I actually work in NHS as an admin in A&E. Again, it's a job sitting down. It's a bit high stress sometimes, but it keeps me humble, keeps me hungry. It's a good thing just to keep me going.' It is cycling – and the prospect of becoming a two-sport Paralympian in Los Angeles in 2028 – that is his main driver, however. 'Absolutely. That is the big goal. That's why we're here. I just need to keep the head down, keep working, keep pushing. We'll get there eventually.'
