'Hard not to feel like I've let a lot of people down' – latest setback to 2026 season sees Oscar Onley leave Tour de Romandie with illness

British talent Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) has been forced to abandon the Tour de Romandie due to a stomach bug, marking yet another significant setback in what was hoped to be his breakthrough 2024 season. The 21-year-old Briton, who stated he felt he had "let a lot of people down," withdrew before Stage 3. This follows a fractured clavicle sustained at Strade Bianche in March, which had already derailed his early-season ambitions, including a planned Giro d'Italia debut.

This latest illness compounds a frustrating year for Onley, whose 2023 season was also cut short by a fractured clavicle at the Critérium du Dauphiné. After a promising start to 2024, securing 8th overall at the Santos Tour Down Under and 10th at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, his consistent run of bad luck is particularly disheartening. These repeated injuries and illnesses interrupt crucial development time and race rhythm for a rider widely tipped for future Grand Tour contention.

Onley's talent is undeniable, but consistent racing is paramount for young riders. One can only hope this string of unfortunate events doesn't become a career-defining pattern.