“I’m trying to get back to the level I had this time last week” – Oscar Onley battles to revive Vuelta podium hopes after crash and mountain setbacks

Oscar Onley has admitted he is still trying to rediscover the level that carried him into Vuelta a Espana podium contention after a crash and two costly mountain stages transformed his second week.

The Netcompany INEOS leader will begin the final week fifth overall, 5:44 behind Enric Mas and 3:34 away from third-placed Primoz Roglic. His advantage over Jakob Omrzel in the white jersey classification has also been reduced to only 30 seconds.

Onley was relieved to complete another punishing afternoon in southern Spain after temperatures approaching 40 degrees forced organisers to remove almost 80 kilometres from Stage 15.

“I’m happy to finish today really,” Onley said after reaching Cordoba. “It was hot. It was pretty full on. Obviously, with a short stage, then it makes it a little bit different to normal. I think we did well as a team.”

Onley entered the first rest day following his strongest performance of the race. He followed Mas on the Alto de Aitana and finished second on Stage 9, crossing the line six seconds behind the Spaniard and ahead of Roglic and Felix Gall.

That result elevated the Scot to fourth overall and strengthened his grip on the white jersey. With Tadej Pogacar already out of the race, Onley’s pre-race ambition of reaching the final podium had developed into a realistic objective.

His second week has instead been shaped by setbacks. Onley crashed early on Stage 12 before struggling to match Mas, Roglic, Gall and Richard Carapaz on the final ascent to Calar Alto. He conceded 2:09 to Mas and slipped from fourth to fifth overall.

Onley then lost another 1:15 to Mas and Gall on Sierra de la Pandera during Stage 14. Roglic also gained 50 seconds on the Netcompany INEOS leader, leaving Onley with substantially more ground to recover during the closing six stages.

The white jersey has come under pressure at the same time. Omrzel won on Calar Alto and reduced his deficit to Onley to 30 seconds, ensuring the young rider classification remains finely balanced entering the final week.

The next two stages should provide Onley with an opportunity to recover before the fight for the general classification intensifies again.

Stage 16 follows rolling terrain towards La Rabida before the sprinters are expected to take greater prominence in Sevilla on Stage 17. The 32.1-kilometre individual time trial to Jerez de la Frontera then begins a demanding sequence that also includes the uphill finishes at Penas Blancas and Collado de Aguacil. “The last week of La Vuelta will be hard,” Onley acknowledged. “There’s two easier days to start off, and then from the TT onwards it’s gonna be hard.”

His immediate priority is restoring the condition that allowed him to accompany Mas on Aitana rather than calculating the time required to return to the podium. “I’m trying to get back to the level that I had this time last week and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “First we just try to recover as best as possible.”

Onley will resume racing on Tuesday 3:34 outside the podium and with Omrzel only 30 seconds behind him in the white jersey competition.