“Hard not to feel like I’ve let a lot of people down” - Oscar Onley admits pressure growing after illness ends Romandie campaign in latest blow to early INEOS career

Oscar Onley has opened up on the difficult start to his time with INEOS Grenadiers after illness forced him out of the Tour de Romandie, with the Brit acknowledging the growing weight of expectation.

The 23-year-old arrived in Switzerland as one of the key names to watch, particularly with the opportunity to test himself against Tadej Pogacar in a demanding stage race. Instead, his campaign ended early on stage 1. “Gutted to leave the Tour de Romandie after some kind of stomach bug the last few days,” he wrote in a post on Instagram.

While the illness explains the immediate cause of his withdrawal, the broader message pointed to a more difficult opening to the season. “Been a tough start to the season to be honest and hard not to feel like I’ve let a lot of people down after all the time and investment from everyone at INEOS Grenadiers.”

The wording underlines the expectations placed on Onley following his move to INEOS, where he was recruited as part of the team’s next generation of Grand Tour contenders.

Onley’s arrival came on the back of a breakthrough 2025 season, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Tour de France that marked him out as one of Britain’s leading general classification prospects.

That trajectory has yet to translate into results in 2026.

He remains without a win this season and has not produced a standout performance in the early months of the campaign, with Romandie representing a key opportunity to reset before illness intervened.

Despite the frustration, Onley struck a more forward-looking tone at the close of his message. “Looking ahead to the next goals and get back amongst it soon,” the Scottish prospect concluded.

The immediate priority will be recovery, but the wider picture remains unchanged.

Romandie had offered a chance to measure his level in a climbing-focused stage race. Instead, it becomes another setback in what is shaping up as a challenging opening phase of his time with INEOS.