Oscar Onley looking forward to 2026 Tour de France after fourth-place finish

Oscar Onley announced himself to the cycling world at the Tour De France three months ago.

After securing a fourth-placed finish at the biggest event in the cycling calendar in July, which equalled the best ever finish for a Scottish rider, he continues to take it all in his stride.

The 22-year-old matched Philippa York’s 1984 result in what was his first attempt at the tour, and he has already set his sights on 2026.

Speaking to STV Sport, he said: “To be honest, it’s not even something I had ever dreamed of. My first dream was to become a pro, then it was just to ride in the tour.

“After the tour you gain a bit of confidence, now I know my place in the bunch and I am among these top guys, but you are only ever as good as your last race.”

Onley represented Great Britain at the UCI World Championships in Rwanda last month, as he becomes accustomed to the spotlight and expectation that comes with riding alongside the world’s best.

Now, he is already thinking about the 2026 Tour De France, which isn’t far from his mind.

“I haven’t really spoken much about it yet, but I guess the goal will be to aim towards the tour again, and, for sure, I’ll put some pressure on myself to perform.

“I don’t like putting a number on things in terms of a position, so the goal is to arrive at the race in the best condition possible.”

After shocking the sport in a breakout year, Onley is now determined to step up the gears.