"I overperformed, but the result shows the level I can reach" - INEOS' new signing Onley on Tour de France breakthrough

Oscar Onley had previously given good signs of being a strong rider in development, but not many would've predicted him to finish the Tour de France this year in fourth place. One of the very hardest Tours in memory, at that, where even Tadej Pogacar struggled with the fatigue in the final week.

"I overperformed, but the result shows the level I can reach. I was the fourth-best climber and the fourth-best GC rider in the Tour. I can honestly say that. That also gives me a lot of motivation for the future," Onley shared in words to the Ride Magazine.

The Briton was fourth at the Tour Down Under, fifth at the UAE Tour, ninth at Itzulia Basque Country, following a very untraditional Tour contender schedule; but then in the summer he was third at the Tour de Suisse, showing great legs ahead of the Grand Boucle, with a stage win in the mieddle ahead of João Almeida. During the opening week of the race then he showed himself strong in the hilly stages and avoided unnecessary time loss, but it was only on stage 12 to Hautacam that he rode a strong final climb and really began pushing his way into the podium fight. In the end he thrived over the three weeks and had a fourth place to show.

"To be honest, not. A lot of people think my life has really changed now, but I wouldn't say that. I still cycle and I still enjoy it. There's more attention for me, and more people will know my name. That's nice, but also a bit strange. It's not something I'm used to, but has it changed much? No, not at all."

His life did however change now as INEOS Grenadiers reportedly spent millions to buy out his contract from Team Picnic PostNL and are looking to make him their new leader and potential future Grand Tour winner. Safe to say that his life didn't change in terms of personality, but there's been a major overhaul that perhaps wouldn't have happened otherwise.

The Scottish rider was 23rd at the Tour's flat time trial when he had his best form, losing 2:02 minutes on Remco Evenepoel (and 1:46 on Tadej Pogacar) over 33 kilometers. To him that's the clear area where he has to improve in order to stay close to the top.

"I can definitely improve. I already knew beforehand that the time trial is a weak point of mine. I'm 60 kilograms and not the most powerful rider, but Vingegaard weighs about the same and he's a good time trialist," he argues. "I can still improve in that area, and that gives me a lot of motivation."