Oscar Onley explains Tour de Romandie abandon
Ineos Grenadiers’ marquee signing Oscar Onley has endured a mixed start to the 2026 season as he builds towards the Tour de France. After abandoning Paris-Nice last month, he has now also been forced to withdraw from the Tour de Romandie due to illness.
Oscar Onley had struggled in Tuesday’s prologue time trial of the Tour de Romandie, and his travails continued on the opening road stage. The Scot abandoned the race before the day’s key climb of Ovronnaz, with Ineos Grenadiers explaining that he had been stricken by illness.
“Oscar Onley has been forced to abandon [the Tour de Romandie] part-way through stage one due to illness,” read a statement from Ineos. “We’re wishing him a speedy recovery and return to racing.”
Onley later shared his own update on social media, revealing he had been dealing with stomach issues. “Gutted to leave the Tour de Romandie after some kind of stomach bug over the last few days.”
He also admitted the situation has weighed on him mentally. “It’s been a tough start to the season, and it’s hard not to feel like I’ve let people down after all the time and investment from everyone at Ineos Grenadiers. Looking ahead to the next goals and hoping to get back to it soon.”
Ineos bought Onley out of the final two years with Picnic PostNL in December after he placed a fine fourth overall at last season’s Tour de France.
Onley was signed to lead the team’s Tour challenge in 2026, and he began his Ineos tenure on a positive note with fourth overall at the Volta ao Algarve. He was also part of Ineos’ winning effort in the team time trial at Paris-Nice, but he withdrew ahead of stage 6 due to a bout of illness.
The 23-year-old was back in action at the Volta a Catalunya, where he placed 12th overall, more than six minutes down on the unassailable Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike).
Onley hoped to measure himself against Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at the Tour de Romandie, but his race has again been cut short by illness.
The next and final race on Onley’s pre-Tour schedule is the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly the Critérium du Dauphiné) in June. He is expected to lead Ineos’ Tour challenge alongside Carlos Rodríguez and Kévin Vauquelin, while Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman share leadership at the Giro d’Italia.
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