Oscar Onley will not be at the start of the upcoming Tour de France 2026. The Netcompany Ineos Briton is suffering from a shoulder injury sustained following a crash during the sixth stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. "I’m gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year. My focus is now on recovering and getting my shoulder in a good place, but I’m really motivated to try and make something out of this season", said the 2002-born climber, who finished fourth in last year's edition.

The dramatic crash in France

During the sixth stage of the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026, Oscar Onley was victim of a crash that occurred on a downhill section before the final climb of the stage. Details that emerged days later shed light on what could have become a real tragedy, as the rider took a corner too wide and plunged over the guardrail, remaining suspended among the branches of a tree at a short distance from a deep ravine. Recovered with some difficulty, he managed to finish the stage, but the team decided to stop him to proceed immediately with medical examinations. In addition to a knee wound, the major damage was a dislocated shoulder with a significant injury.

The withdrawal from the Tour

Today, June 25th, 13 days after the crash and 9 days before the start of the Tour de France 2026, the official withdrawal comes for Oscar Onley's major objective of the year. "He has already begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress. We wish Oscar a swift and complete recovery", writes Netcompany Ineos on the official website.

"I'm gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year. My focus is now on recovering and getting my shoulder in a good place, but I'm really motivated to try and make something out of this season."

🗣️ Oscar Onley https://t.co/XuPr3ZPksM pic.twitter.com/q4N1Uq8763

— Netcompany INEOS (@NetcompanyINEOS) June 25, 2026

It hasn't been a straightforward season for the 23-year-old, who had started this year with a solid fourth place at the Volta ao Algarve, just behind Ayuso, Seixas and Almeida, but then failed to finish Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandy and the former Dauphiné, finishing only 12th at the Volta a Catalunya. Given the Tour withdrawal, Onley could try his luck at the upcoming Vuelta a España, but we can only wait for the announcement of his full recovery from the injury and the subsequent calendar from the team.