IT was only after he had pushed the reigning Tour de France champion all the way for the second time in a few days that Oscar Onley properly appreciated that this was no ordinary season.
If there was disappointment at being narrowly beaten twice into second place in the Croatian hills by Jonas Vingegaard then it was dwarfed by the Kelso rider’s general classification third-place finish and a wider realisation of what might be possible for him in cycling.
Onley has only just turned 20 and is in his second season with the Team DSM Development squad based out of Sittard in the Netherlands. A breakthrough season on the road has included victory at the under-23 Valle d'Aosta and a chance to ride in the Tour of Britain that at one point swept past his front door and along the streets where he honed his trade.
His achievements haven’t gone unnoticed back home, Onley nominated in the Male Athlete of the Year Award at tonight’s Scottish Cycling awards at Hampden Park. It was a further sign of his ongoing progression at the end of a season to remember.
“I wasn’t really expecting to have a year like this,” he admits. “Obviously I wanted to progress from last year but from July onwards it’s been a steep trajectory upwards so I’m really happy with how the season has gone overall.
“I put that down to just learning the races more. Last year was my first full season in Europe and the races are a lot different to in Britain. So last year it was about getting used to that and then taking what I learned from that into my races this year. Getting stronger physically has helped me a lot too.
“Another part of it has just been getting a bit more streetwise and getting to know the field. I’ve a good idea now of whose wheel to follow when we’re out there.”
The duel with Vingegaard at the CRO race was a useful benchmark of his progress and also helped bring this rising star to the attention of the wider cycling world.
“That was a big surprise,” he adds. “I went into that race wanting a good result but I wasn’t expecting to be going for the win against Vingegaard. That was a confidence boost. It was a good marker of where I’m at in terms of measuring my progress. And I can take that confidence into next year and hopefully improve on those results in the bigger races that I do.
“The team have been taking it quite slow with me and not putting any pressure on me in terms of getting results or anything like that. Last year was all about getting used to living by myself and learning the races. And this year I’m a lot more comfortable living in Europe. It feels more like home now and I can just concentrate on training and it’s all a bit easier.”
Signing for Team DSM has been about a lifestyle change as much as it has been a career move but Onley now feels more confident away from cycling which has been reflected in more mature performances in races.
“There are six or seven of us who stay in apartments in Sittard throughout the season so there’s always someone to ride with,” he reveals. “After training we usually go to a café in the afternoon and if we have a day off then we’ll maybe head into Maastricht which is about 15 minutes away.
“The set-up is all really good and the area we’re in is close to Belgium and Germany where there are a lot of decent climbs as well.”
Onley's performances in the second half of 2022 have led to an adjustment of his ambitions for the year ahead.
“I had a good discussion with the team at the end of the year,” he adds. “I’m not really someone who has a lot of confidence going into races but, from what they were saying and the level I’m at, I think going forward I can focus on bigger ambitions.
“This is my second year in the under-23 category but we’ve been discussing what I want to do in the coming year whether that’s moving up or staying at the level I’m at and continuing to do a mix of pro and development races. That’s probably the best option.”
Home, though, will forever be Kelso, the place where it all started for him and where he is currently resting after a hectic season.
“It’s nice being back, it’s like a holiday!” he says with a laugh. “I try to switch off and forget about the bike for a while, spend some time with family and friends.
“Growing up in the Borders it was really good for cycling. I came home for the Tour of Britain and one of the stages went past my house. So that was a really special day, going on all the roads I used to train on when I was younger. To be doing that in a pro race was really special.”
