Big blow for INEOS! Former Vuelta stage winner set to miss early 2026 after fracturing hip in training crash

The INEOS Grenadiers have been hit by an early-season setback. Spanish rider Óscar Rodriguez has suffered a serious training crash, fracturing his hip and undergoing surgery. This injury will now rule him out of the opening months of the 2026 season.

After the operation, the INEOS rider will now have to focus fully on recovery and rehabilitation, a process that will extend through the first months of 2026. In this initial phase, the primary objective will be the proper healing of the injury, adhering to medical timelines, before considering a gradual return to competition.

The setback affects not only the Spaniard’s own sporting plans but also those of INEOS Grenadiers, as a hip fracture demands time, patience and specific work to regain confidence on the bike. The medical team will closely monitor every stage of his recovery, prioritising his health over any competitive goals.

From within the team environment, he has received strong support during this period, with the hope that Rodriguez can complete his rehabilitation successfully and return to his best level once he is medically cleared to race.

Throughout his professional career, Rodriguez has consistently demonstrated his quality, particularly in stage races and challenging uphill finishes. His most notable victory came at the 2018 Vuelta a Espana, where he won a high-mountain stage, a result that gave him international recognition and confirmed his profile as a climber.

He has also finished second on stages of major races such as the Vuelta a Burgos, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour du Limousin-Perigord – Nouvelle Aquitaine, as well as fourth on a stage of the 2019 Vuelta a Espana, building up a series of consistent results at the highest level.

In general classifications, the Spanish rider has achieved several podium places, reflecting his regularity. He was second overall at the Vuelta a Burgos in 2019 and at the Tour of Hungary in 2022, and also reached the final podium at La Route d’Occitanie – La Depeche du Midi in 2021.

Other highlights include second place at the Mont Ventoux Denivele Challenge in 2021 and sixth overall at the Tour of Norway in 2024, results that confirm his place in the international peloton.