Oscar Onley ends his season on a high: “I can go for GC in Grand Tours”

Scottish rider Oscar Onley, representing Team DSM–Firmenich PostNL, has wrapped up his 2024 season in strong form. The 22-year-old, who began the year with a stage win at the Tour Down Under, capped his campaign with an impressive second-place finish at the Tour of Guangxi, on the climb to Nongla. Onley was only bested by Lennert Van Eetvelt in the final meters.

Reflecting on his performance, Onley shared his satisfaction with his progress this year, particularly highlighting his newfound consistency. “Finally I can just finish a lot of races in a row and train well, without injuries. That made the difference this fall,” he told Wielerflits.

Despite originally heading to China to support teammate Max Poole for the general classification, Onley seized his opportunity when Poole struggled. “We came to China with Max Poole for the GC,” Onley explains. “I was a back-up and would help where I could. But he didn’t feel well on the way to Nongla, it’s not a climb that suits him well. I got the chance and took it. I also knew the climb from the year before, which helped me. I also knew where I wanted to go, but I also know how strong Lenny is. I expected him to be able to stay with me, but in the last meters he still had a little bit more left to surpass me.”

The runner-up finish marks Onley’s first podium in a WorldTour race, a milestone he acknowledges even as he remains pragmatic. “It is my first podium in a WorldTour round. Realistically speaking, it is not the biggest race, but it is still WorldTour. There are a lot of good guys and it is nice to finish the season in this way.”

Onley, who dealt with setbacks earlier in the year including a broken collarbone, also pointed to his consistency throughout the season, noting how he’s been able to showcase his potential across several races. “I have had a bit of bad luck, but I can say that I have been able to remain reasonably consistent throughout the year.”

Looking ahead, Onley plans to focus on the Ardennes classics next year, following a disrupted 2024 campaign where he missed his target due to injury. “In the Tour de Suisse I showed that I can also do something on the longer climbs. Adam Yates and Joao Almeida were on a different level there. Next year I want to focus on the Ardennes first. That was also the initial plan this year, but I broke my collarbone just before. Those classics should suit me well, just like the one-week tours in the WorldTour.”

Ultimately, Onley’s ambitions lie in becoming a grand tour contender. “I want to continue to develop so that I can also go for the classifications in the grand tours. That is what I want to achieve one day, but I don't know how far I am from that now.”

Oscar Onley's 2024 season may have come to an end, but his strong performances, coupled with his clear focus on future goals, make him a rider to watch as he continues to develop on the WorldTour stage.