Oscar Onley (Team Picnic-Post NL) told Scottish Cycling prior to the Grand Départ three weeks ago that he would be targeting stages, with the general classification being a secondary aim.
However, all expectations were exceeded with a fabulous fourth place finish which has seen the Kelso Comet – as he is now affectionally being referred to – as the breakout star of the Tour de France.
Fourth place on general classification, the best performance by a Scottish rider – only ever matched by Pippa York, then riding as Robert Millar, in the 1984 edition.
Onley’s Tour
While externally the Scot and his team were playing down expectations, Onley came into the race with the de facto team leadership of a Picnic-PostNL squad seeking key UCI points to avoid relegation, showing the faith the Dutch squad show in the 22-year-old riding his second Tour.
The opening stage in Lille, saw the peloton face fierce crosswinds, with the chaos of position, crashes and a zig-zagging route that resembled a stage of the America’s Cup rather than the Grand Boucle – 30 seconds would be conceded by Onley, who finished in a group with the favourites for the White Jersey – Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz and Ben Healy.
The uphill finishes of the first few days, a sixth place in Boulogne on Stage 2 and followed by a fourth in Rouen on Stage 4 was a key statement of the Spokes’ alumnus intention for the Tour. The hectic run in to Rouen saw Onley come down in a crash with 25km to go and chase back into the leading group to go toe-to-toe with Pogacar and Vingegaard in the final, rising to seventh on general classification.
Time lost in the individual time trial, would be followed by an excellent third atop Mûr-de-Bretagne to leave Onley heading into the first rest day sitting seventh, and within two minutes of the podium and the White Jersey.
The Pyrenees would be uncharted territory for Onley – despite living in Andorra – the Kelso native prefers climbs under 20 minutes in length, however the first test would be the steep slopes of the Hautacam on Stage 12.
Despite, a brutal attack by Pogacar from 12 kilometres out, Onley would ride sensibly to come home fifth on the stage and rise to sixth in the general classification – putting time into a number of rivals such as Felix Gall and Kevin Vauquelin. An excellent showing on hill climb to the Altiport at Peyragudes would set up Oscar for the final Pyrenean stage.
He came onto the lower slopes of the last climb of a brutal day to Superbagnéres in the drastically reduced yellow jersey group, where the pace then increased. A stinging attack from Vingegaard, which was followed by Pogacar, split the GC group to pieces and Onley rode at his own tempo. Pushing all the way to the line, he gained time on other riders and finished sixth on the stage; and with that moving up to fourth place with only the two aforementioned riders and Florian Lipowitz ahead of him.
The final week saw three massive mountain stages, opening with the test of Mont Ventoux. Despite a number of coordinated attacks from Red Bull-BORA hansgrohe to extend Lipowitz lead and rise Roglic up the general classification, Onley was able to limit losses on the bald mountain.
The queen stage of the race to Courchavel was the best of Oscar Onley in the Tour, after being nearly three minutes down at one point from his Red Bull rival Lipowitz – Onley managed to catch and overhaul the German.
As Red Bull collapsed behind, the Scottish youngster was the only rider in the whole Tour to be able to follow an attack from Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard – to finish a magnificent fourth place on the stage and take 1’39” out of a 2 minute deficit to the German heading into the final mountain stage – and set up a shootout on La Plagne.
With around six kilometres to go on Stage 19, Pogacar attacked once more and alongside Vingegaard and Lipwitz, Onley was able to follow – with the first four of riding together. Coming into the finale the screw was turned once more and despite an incredibly brave and resilient effort, Onley had to let go of the wheels and ride at his own tempo. Pushing all the way to the finish, he crossed the line in a great fifth place – securing his phenomenal fourth place.
Overall, it’s a record-breaking Tour for Oscar – his best result by far in his short career – and the best Scottish finish at a Grand Tour since Robert Millar’s second place at 1987 Giro d’Italia. For his team Picnic Post-NL, it’s massively bolstered their survival chances – moving the team up to 16th in the three-year-ranking.
A word too for Oscar’s teammate Sean Flynn, completing his first Tour riding in support of Oscar and sprinter Pavel Bittner. We’re sure it certainly won’t be the last time we see him on the Champs-Elyseés.
“Oscar Bravo, his Tour was already a triumph, but the bonnie young prince of the borders was also not about to abdicate his GC position yet”@friebos looks back on Oscar Onley’s incredible Tour 🏴#TDF2025 #OnleyFans pic.twitter.com/dqj5eQ98BX
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 27, 2025