Huge blow for INEOS - Oscar Onley ruled out of Tour de France as shoulder injury confirmed

Netcompany INEOS have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Tour de France as Oscar Onley has been officially ruled out of the grand tour. The British rider suffered a shoulder injury after a crash at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes earlier this month.

The british team's general classification leader suffered a major crash on stage six of the WorldTour race, with reports emerging that he injured his shoulder as he fell off his bike and over the edge of a ravine - with a tree saving him from a much more serious fall.

A team statement said: "Following Oscar Onley's crash on stage six of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, further medical investigations have confirmed a significant shoulder injury."

"Unfortunately, this means Oscar will be unable to compete in this year’s Tour de France.He has already begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress. We wish Oscar a full and speedy recovery."

Onley admitted he was "gutted" to be missing the Grand Boucle, but knows that the focus is now on recovery going forward as the race comes just a little too soon.

Onley said: "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.

"I am looking forward to watching the boys racing in France in the coming weeks, especially knowing how hard everyone has worked."

Geraint Thomas and INEOS management have been dealt the headache amid news that Kevin Vauquelin too faces a race against time to the Barcelona Grand Depart on July 4th. The Frenchman fell ill with a virus on the final weekend of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, throwing another spanner in the works.

Vauquelin won't ride the French National Championships this weekend, saying: "A virus and a bacterial infection, which I contracted during the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tour, are further weakening me. The team and I have decided to skip the championships to prepare for the Tour de France. It was a difficult decision, but health comes first."