TdF stage 7: Onley battles on the Mur-de- Bretagne

 

Onley contemplates that exceptional third place finish


Stage 7 of the Tour de France returned to Bretagne roads, with a 197 kilometre route with two ascents of the famous Mur-de-Bretagne. Team Picnic PostNL shone just a bit brighter by local hero Warren Barguil at the sign-in in Saint-Malo. And, the Dutch team looked to position Oscar Onley in the finale.

On the first ascent of the Mur-de-Bretagne, Van den Broek and Barguil kept Onley safe. Unfortunately, Barguil crashed on the descent and continue to the end of the stage where he required stitches. As the yellow jersey group continued on, Van den Broek guided Onley going into the last three kilometres with the final ascent to go. 

Onley stayed with the fierce pace behind Pogacar, Vinegegaard and Evenepoel; with Onley giving it all to the line with a brilliant third place finish - his first ever stage podium at the Tour. A well-deserved result for Onley and the team, Onley  moved up to seventh on GC!

"The guys and team once again did a super job to protect me and look after me throughout the stage. It meant I could just focus on the final as much as possible and not have to worry about anything else; and they positioned me for the first time up the Mur perfectly. I wouldn't say I was thinking too much tactically on that final climb, but when you have the legs it's easier to make the right decisions when you're on the limit. It was cagey for the first three, but behind I think everyone was on their limit from the start of it as it was a really strong pace into the bottom of the climb. It was just all-out sprint to the line in the end and we can be pleased with the third place. Of course to get a win would be nice, but there's a long way to go in this Tour de France."
-Oscar Onley











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