Oscar Onley’s future is again under the spotlight after respected journalist Daniel Benson reported that the Scottish climber did not attend the start of Team Picnic PostNL’s pre-season training camp in Calpe.
Benson, writing on his SubStack from the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe presentation in Mallorca, revealed that Onley was unexpectedly absent despite all riders being scheduled to report today.
“I’ve just received breaking news from Calpe: Oscar Onley has not attended the start of the Team Picnic PostNL camp. All riders were expected to arrive today… but sources on the ground have told us that Oscar is not only not there but has also been allowed to stay at home for the next two days.”
The detail that he has been allowed to remain at home will only intensify speculation surrounding a possible move to INEOS Grenadiers, who have been strongly linked with the 2025 Tour de France breakout star.
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A rumour that refuses to die
Onley’s name has been circulating through the transfer market ever since his breakout fourth-place finish at the 2025 Tour. He later confirmed that around 15 teams had contacted his management in the aftermath, with INEOS widely understood to be one of the most serious suitors.
While Onley remains under contract with Picnic PostNL until the end of 2027, this sudden absence from their first major 2026 gathering will raise questions. Riders typically join the Calpe December camp for equipment testing, performance planning and early-season preparation. Being excused from the opening days is unusual for any rider, let alone one at the centre of a high-profile transfer rumour.
Onley finished 4th at th e2025 Tour de France in a breakout performance
Ineos continue their rebuild
The Grenadiers are widely expected to make further moves as part of their multi-year rebuild, led by new director of racing Geraint Thomas and a refocused strategy aimed at climbing back into Tour de France contention.
Onley has consistently been described by analysts as an ideal fit for that project: young, improving rapidly, and already demonstrating elite GC potential. However, no agreement has been announced, and Team Picnic PostNL have maintained that their rider remains part of their long-term plans.
Nothing has been confirmed by either team, but Benson’s report adds a fresh twist to one of the most persistent storylines of the winter. If the Scottish climber remains absent beyond the two-day window referenced in the report, the noise around a potential move is only likely to grow louder.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
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🚨 Breaking news: Oscar Onley not at Picnic PostNL camp as Ineos transfer rumbles on Rider remains at home for two days following trip to Australia dnlbenson.substack.com/p/breaking-new…
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