Star Metro - Ineos snap up Scotsman Onley

The 23-year-old, who has been a professional since 2019, has two career victories -- a stage of the Tour Down Under in 2024 and a stage of the Tour of Switzerland this year -- but has chiefly made his name as a general classification rider.

Besides his fourth place in Paris this summer, he also finished third in the Tour of Switzerland and fourth in the Tour of Britain this season.

"Oscar's performance in 2025 has been incredible really. I rode my first Tour when I was 21, so to see what he achieved at this year's Tour at just 22 was really impressive," said recently-retired Geraint Thomas who was appointed director of racing at Ineos last month.

"The way he rides and understands a race is mature beyond his years -– he's a proper racer.

"I can't wait to work with him -– at his age there's still loads of headroom."

Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner, said Onley fits perfectly with Ineos's renewed ambitions.

Long dominant, the former Team Sky has ceded ground to the powerhouses built by UAE around Tadej Pogacar and by Visma around Jonas Vingegaard.

"I grew up watching Geraint, Dave (Brailsford, the head of Ineos) and the team dominate the sport and put cycling on the map in the UK, so I am really proud to be joining the Grenadiers on a long-term deal, which will also mean racing for a British team when the Tour de France departs from Scotland in 2027," said Onley.

His arrival -- following the signing of Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin, seventh in the last Tour de France -- is part of the team's drive to relaunch.

"The strongest teams I ever rode with had multiple, talented GC riders, and that's what I feel we have now -– super strong options for any stage of the race," said Thomas.

"Oscar complements our rider roster perfectly."

D.Fraser--SMC