When Geraint Thomas won the Tour de France in 2018, it felt different. Eight years later, Oscar Onley is following in his footsteps, joining INEOS as a new era begins.
For Onley, joining INEOS is more than just a career move; it's a return to the team he grew up watching, dreaming about, and measuring himself against. As he reflects on his journey, he can't help but marvel at the speed of his rise.
"If I told 10-year-old me that I'd be joining this team, he wouldn't believe it," Onley said, speaking on the INEOS Grenadiers YouTube channel. Even last year, he wouldn't have believed it himself.
The change has come quickly, but not without challenges. Onley's deep connection to the team goes beyond contracts and calendars.
The Tour win that shaped his dream
When asked about his favorite cycling moment, Onley points to Geraint Thomas' 2018 Tour de France victory. While he had watched British winners before, this one stood out.
"It felt a little bit different," Onley explained. What stayed with him was not Thomas' dominance but his humanity. Thomas wasn't someone who had been dominating before, and he didn't make winning look easy.
This resonated with Onley, a young rider trying to envision his future.
From watching to learning
Years later, Onley found himself racing alongside the very same rider he once watched on television. Thomas' dedication and preparation, even when not competing for his own results, inspired Onley.
Now, Thomas has taken on a new role within the team, and their relationship has deepened. Onley appreciates Thomas' willingness to share his experiences and insights, even as a mentor.
"He was my age once, and he knows what I'm going through," Onley said. "He's someone I can keep in contact with whenever I have a question, not just about cycling but about the team as well."
The team he always wanted
INEOS holds a special place in Onley's heart. It was the team he dreamed of joining as a young rider, drawn by its British heritage and top British talent.
When he turned professional, the scale of INEOS' support impressed him. "When I first turned pro, looking across and seeing the amount of support they had at races, it's something you notice and want to be part of," he said.
Even in a global team, the British thread remains significant to Onley. "Having that British aspect is quite nice," he noted, excited about the team's core.
Onley also appreciates INEOS' proactive approach to racing. "A team like INEOS is really good at looking at opportunities in other places and creating exciting racing moments," he said, eager to be part of that.
Aiming for the biggest races
Onley is clear about his goals. "I'm really looking forward to targeting the biggest races, the Grand Tours, with a team like this," he stated.
He sees his arrival as part of a larger project, one that he and other riders are building together. "It's a really exciting project that we're starting," he said.
But belief has to be earned. Onley aims to build on last season's success and prove his place among the top riders in these races.
His approach is straightforward: "I want to put myself in the best position possible to go into these races in the best form I can."
The outcome, he acknowledges, is beyond his control. "Then whatever happens from there happens. But my focus is on getting the most out of myself and arriving at these big targets in the best possible shape."
Following a familiar path
In 2018, Geraint Thomas changed how British riders were perceived at the top of the sport. He did it without looking untouchable and without making winning look easy.
Eight years later, the young rider who watched that moment is now stepping into the same team, guided by the same figure, and aiming for the same summit. This time, Oscar Onley is not just watching; he's stepping forward to write his own version of that story.
