Oscar Onley (Picnic Post NL) was in all probability the rider with the credentials to problem Johnatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on the Willunga Hill stage of the Santos Tour Down Under. He went shut however in the end needed to settle for second place, on step under his end result on the climb in 2024.
The Scottish rider began the day 15 seconds down on earlier race chief Javier Romo (Movistar) however he was heading again to the climb the place he took the primary, and solely, win of his skilled profession to this point. Willunga Hill clearly fits him to a tee, a lot in order that he gave Richie Porte’s Strava file on the climb a nudge final yr, lacking his mark of 6:34 by only one second.
The 145.7km stage began with an early climb of Wickham Hill, descended Willunga after which swept previous the coast earlier than heading into a primary ascent of the three-kilometre climb of Willunga Hill after which looping round for one more and last climb as much as the end line.
A break had shortly taken off out entrance within the early moments of racing, together with Pablo Torres (UAE Team Emirates -XRG) who was solely 35 seconds again on the general.
“We noticed Movistar had been controlling after which as soon as the GC guys weren’t within the break, they let that hole exit fast,” Team Picnic PostNL sports activities director Matt Winston stated, explaining the workforce’s and Onley’s techniques.
“We took over as a result of we wished to race for the stage. We knew to maneuver up on GC, we needed to battle for time bonuses, in any other case it would not be sufficient.”
15 seconds would have been sufficient to take ochre jersey, and greater than ten seconds would have been sufficient to land on the rostrum, simply so long as none of his key rivals additionally obtained gaps or time bonuses.
There was a transparent understanding of what Onley wanted to do going into the stage, which Winston defined initially of the day.
“I feel Narváez confirmed he is in good type. He will deal with his race, we’ve to only do our greatest to get Oscar as contemporary as potential into the ultimate. And when the tempo is difficult, then I feel we will get end result.”
It definitely performed out the best way Winston envisaged, with a bunch of 4 out entrance, extra closing behind and an enormous dash coming from Narváez with Onley in scorching pursuit however in the end unable to beat the hole.
“The guys absolutely dedicated to me immediately, driving on the entrance and supporting me all stage; which I’m grateful for,” stated Onley post-race.
“I rode a conservative climb holding again somewhat for the ultimate however sadly Narvaez was stronger within the dash on the finish.
The second place on the stage the place he had celebrated victory in 2024 additionally shifted Onley as much as fourth total, now holding a 15 second hole to Narváez .
He is barely simply off the rostrum with one dash stage left however little hope of an entire reshuffle, though third positioned Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) is simply three seconds forward in third.
If the anticipated final result performs out on Sunday, Onley can be sitting only one spot shy of these podium steps as soon as once more.
“It’s begin to the season however I wished extra from the stage and the GC,” stated Onley.
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