"One moment I’m on the bike, the next I’m on the ground" - Oscar Onley loses serious time after La Vuelta crash
Cycling
Oscar Onley had until stage 12 been in the fight for the overall win at the Vuelta a España but that might have ended in Calar Alto. The Netcompany INEOS rider struggled on the final climb after a rough day where he suffered a crash, eventually losing important time in the fight for the overall classification.
Onley was selected for the Vuelta as INEOS' leader following his withdrawal from the Tour de France lineup. The Scottish climber had suffered an injury at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône Alpes and refocused his efforts on the Spanish Grand Tour, perhaps best suited to his abilities - featuring shorter and more explosive stages.
Until stage 12 he had done quite well. An error in pacing saw him shed some time on stage 6 to Castelló, but otherwise the INEOS rider looked strong. On stage 9, he was the only rider able to follow race leader Enric Mas on the Alto de Aitana, meaning his fourth place still cast a danger on the Spaniard and specially those on the podium.
Oscar Onley continues to lead the youth classification at the Vuelta a España
Onley crashes early on stage 12
But this Thursday was a difficult day for Onley, victim of a crash early on in the day in a roundabout. He isn't sure how the crash happened: “To be honest, I have no idea. One moment I’m on the bike, the next I’m on the ground. Maybe the roads here are slippery,” he said in a post-race interview.
Whilst he did not appear injured, there were wounds and Onley would have to carry them all throughout a tough mountain stage.
Jack Haig saves Onley on Calar Alto
As Felix Gall attacked on Calar Alto, Onley was dropped from the front group, and joined forced with Richard Carapaz who was chasing. Eventually, Carapaz and Gregor Muhlberger made their way back into the Felix Gall group whilst the 23-year old had been dropped.
Onley lost 5:05 minutes on the line to Jakob Omrzel who has now become his main threat for both the white jersey and a position in the Top5, whilst he lost over two minutes on the road to Enric Mas.
Still, it could've been worst, as he found support in Jack Haig from the breakaway on the climb's flat section, effectively limiting his losses.
“Physically my legs felt okay, but I couldn’t really push myself. I rode at my own pace and caught up with Jack, who helped me a lot to limit the time loss. He helped me recover on the flat sections. He did a very good job,” Onley concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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