Oscar Onley to miss Tour de France after shoulder injury sustained in crash

Oscar Onley, the 23-year-old Scottish cyclist who finished fourth in the 2025 Tour de France, has been ruled out of this year's race. His team, Netcompany-Ineos, confirmed on Thursday that a shoulder injury sustained in a crash at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will prevent him from starting the 113th edition of the Grande Boucle.

The crash

Onley crashed on the sixth stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on 13 June. According to reports, he went off the road on a descent, flew over a guardrail, and was caught in a tree crown, avoiding a fall into a deep ravine. He managed to finish the stage, crossing the line about half an hour behind the winner, but did not start the next day. Initial examinations indicated a dislocated shoulder and leg injuries; subsequent tests revealed a more serious shoulder injury.

I'm gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year.

Team leadership reshuffled

Onley had been set to share the leadership of Netcompany-Ineos with Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin, who placed seventh in the 2025 Tour. With Onley out, Vauquelin is expected to take sole command, supported by riders such as Carlos Rodríguez (fifth in 2023) and Thymen Arensman, who finished fourth last year and won two stages. Vauquelin himself missed the French national championships this weekend due to illness but hopes to recover in time for the Tour.

Recovery and reaction

Onley has already begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress, according to his team. He said his focus is on healing his shoulder and that he remains motivated to salvage something from the season. "I'm really motivated to try and make something out of this season," he added. He also said he looks forward to watching his teammates race in France.

Wider impact on the peloton

Onley's withdrawal is the latest blow to the Tour's start list. Belgian Wout van Aert will also miss the race after injuring his elbow at the same Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Van Aert's absence means defending champion Jonas Vingegaard loses a key lieutenant in his battle against dominant rider Tadej Pogačar.

The 2026 Tour de France

The 113th Tour de France will begin on 4 July with a team time trial in Barcelona and conclude on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 26 July. Onley's absence removes one of the top-ten finishers from last year's general classification.