The Netcompany Ineos racer from Kelso is hoping to add to his growing reputation when he competes in the 273km elite men’s race as part of the Great Britain team at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday.

“To be honest, I don’t know what people say about me. I don’t really follow the cycling world that much,” he added. “I just focus on myself.

“People in the team have a lot of belief in me and that gives me confidence.

“I think sometimes I kind of lack that confidence and maybe don’t know what I am capable of so when these people are saying these things then it makes me believe it a little bit more.”

No Scot has ever won a Grand Tour but Onley explains the punishing schedules suit him.

“It’s definitely one of my goals, so, yes, I hope to win one of them in the future,” he said.

“I have goals that I set myself every year and I really feel like I am in a good place just now. I feel like I am in the right environment to really get the most out of myself.

“For sure I haven’t got the most out of myself this year, but I have really stepped up in terms of just my base level and the way I have been training. I just haven’t really been able to show it in as many races as I would like.

“Having La Vuelta in the last few weeks has given me that confidence to go into next year continuing to set these goals and hopefully match them.”