Oscar Onley’s fourth-place Tour at 23 and recent stage win signal a clear upward trajectory. Punters might target his stage-win odds and consider longer-term outright podium bets for 2026–27, with extra appeal ahead of the 2027 Tour start in Edinburgh — value likely in stage markets and future podium markets rather than backing him directly against the dominant top two.
Oscar Onley Eyes Grand Tour Podium as Momentum Builds
Oscar Onley insists he still feels "very far away" from winning the Tour de France, but the 23-year-old Scot believes a podium is achievable in the next couple of years after a breakthrough season that included a fourth-place finish at the Tour and a stage win at the 2024 Tour Down Under.
Rapid Rise and Team Progression
Since joining the Netherlands-based Team Picnic–PostNL in 2023, Onley has shown steady development. His first individual professional victory came on an uphill finish in stage five of the 2024 Tour Down Under, and he carried that momentum into the Tour de France where early season gains transformed expectations from targeting stage results to contesting the general classification.
Tour de France 2024: From Stage Focus to GC Contender
Onley said the months leading into last summer's Tour were pivotal: "Everything started to click into place and so I was starting to gain a lot more confidence in myself as well." Initially aiming for stage wins and occasional GC days, he ultimately finished fourth, just over a minute behind third-placed Florian Lipowitz, with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard well clear at the front.
Ambitions for Podium and Grand Tour Strategy
Despite the gap to the top two, Onley is optimistic about future podium chances: "To the front two, there is a big gap from the rest of us, but I definitely feel that, in the next couple of years, a podium finish is definitely possible if things go the right way for me." He also sees opportunities in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, where competition can be less deep, and is already eyeing the 2027 Tour start in Edinburgh as a special target.
Doping, Testing and Confidence in Clean Sport
Onley addressed the sport’s history with performance-enhancing drugs while stressing confidence in current anti-doping systems: "I have a lot of trust in the systems in place... I believe the sport's come a long way in the past 10-15 years." He acknowledged the sport may never be completely clean but emphasized focusing on personal performance and trusting that rivals are playing by the rules.
Base in Andorra and Training Environment
Living in Andorra, between France and Spain, provides Onley with a high-altitude training base and a community of professionals to train with. He praised the environment for its peace and proximity to other riders, noting the inspiration he draws from racing alongside experienced champions.
Local Roots and 2027 Motivation
Brought up in Kelso, Onley still cherishes rides in the Scottish Borders and looks forward to experiencing a hometown start when the Tour begins in Edinburgh in 2027. The prospect of family and friends seeing him on the start line is a strong personal motivator as he builds toward future Grand Tour ambitions.
Oscar Onley still feels "very far away" from winning the Tour de France despite last summer's historic fourth-place finish but believes he is capable of making the podium "in the next couple of years".
The Bbc
