'Huge moment' as Onley matches Scottish record Tour fourth place

Oscar Onley equalled the best-ever finish by a Scottish rider in the Tour de France and described his surprise overall fourth place as "a huge moment in my career" that "sparks a bit of a dream".

The 22-year-old from Kelso, who matched the achievement of compatriot Philippa York (then known as Robert Millar) in 1984, says a first attempt at chasing the top spots in general classification had been a secondary aim for Team Picnic-Post NL.

Onley, who had initially been targeting stage wins in his second Tour, told ITV Sport: "We never really had the plan to go for GC in the beginning. It was more just see how it goes."

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Onley added: "To be honest, I've never even thought about a top five in the Tour before, so to get it in my first try in GC is quite incredible and I'm excited for the future."

After Slovenian Tadej Pogacar won his fourth Tour de France and Belgian Wout Van Aert secured the final stage in a rain-soaked Paris, Onley reflected on how he was able to compete with the top riders.

"It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races as well as these are the top guys and in top shape in the biggest race," said the Scot now being dubbed the Kelso Comet.

"So if I can do it here then why not in other races?"

Onley praised his team for a "really well-managed" three-week campaign.

"There was no pressure from the team," he said. "They've handled that really well because I think as soon as you say you are going for GC, there's a lot more attention on you.

"I've just taken every day as it's come really and not made any extra stress as the Tour is already stressful enough, just to ride and compete.

"I'm really happy with how myself and the team have managed this three weeks."

Onley said he was finally able to "soak it all in" on the final climb of Montmartre and that it was "pretty special" to ride down the Champs Elysees to the finish.

"I guess this is a really big moment in my career," he said. "I don't really realise it yet, but I think just with talking to other riders, going forward now we have something to build on and an exciting project for the future and it sparks a bit of a dream I guess."