The enforced absence of star GC signing Oscar Onley due to injury has not stopped his Netcompany Ineos squad from naming a powerful and versatile line-up for this year's Tour de France.
Fourth last year and considered a dark horse for the Tour de France podium this year, Onley was confirmed to be a non-starter last week after he crashed heavily in stage 6 in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, badly injuring his shoulder.
In his absence, the British squad named an experienced eight-rider team for the Tour de France that includes 2019 overall winner Egan Bernal, time trial specialist Filippo Ganna and Dutch climber Thymen Arensman, who captured two Tour mountain stages last year.
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If Onley's absence represented an important setback for the team, the good news for Ineos is that Josh Tarling, who broke his collarbone on the same Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stage where Onley crashed out, has recovered in time for the Tour.
The young British time triallist will add yet more firepower in that speciality to the squad, with a line-up that also includes two former World Champions in the speciality, Ganna and Tobias Foss.
Strong performers in the TTT at the recent Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Netcompany Ineos will surely be planning to put on a similarly impressive performance this Saturday in Barcelona.
"This team has some great racers who people love to watch. They’ll have the freedom to go for it and race aggressively across the three weeks. Fortune favours the brave. We didn't come to this Tour to follow the race - we came to shape it," Director of Racing Geraint Thomas, himself a former Tour de France winner, said in a press release.
“Barcelona’s team time trial presents a great opportunity to start strongly. This year we’ve performed well in this discipline so will give it everything we’ve got. From there, it’s going to be full-on and we’re ready to take on the challenge."
Three of the Netcompany line-up, Arensman, Bernal and Ganna, have also ridden the Giro d'Italia this May, where Arensman finished fourth overall and Ganna won his eighth stage.
“I think riding the Giro d’Italia is actually pretty good preparation and I’ve taken some time to recover and look after the body," Arensman, 26, said.
"I have some great memories from last year’s Tour and I’m motivated to be there again and see what we can deliver. We have a strong team and it’s a really good group dynamic which is always really important.”
"It's a really strong group we're taking to the Tour and that's what excites me most. I'll do my job to give everything in the time trials and on the flat, keep the team in the right place, and we'll see what we can build over the three weeks together," Ganna added.
While Onley absence was announced last week, a more unexpected name to be missing from the lineup is Spain's Carlos Rodríguez, who has raced the Tour for Ineos for the last three editions.
Netcompany Ineos will also be able to count on one of the most successful breakaway and small group sprint racers of 2026, former French national road race champion Dorian Godon, while Kévin Vauquelin, seventh last year, will be also be making his Tour debut for Netcompany Ineos.
Last but not least, Polish veteran Michal Kwiatkowski, recently crowned Polish National TT champion, has overcome injuries earlier this season to take on a team captain's role in the Tour.
"Racing the Tour de France was my motivation to come back from injury this year," the double stage winner and former World Champion said.
"At times it felt almost impossible, but I never stopped believing, and with great support from the team, I made it. I'm proud of what I've achieved in such a short time and am ready to get out there racing."
Netcompany Ineos for 2026 Tour de France
- Thymen Arensman (Ned)
- Egan Bernal (Col)
- Tobias Foss (Nor)
- Filippo Ganna (Ita)
- Dorian Godon (Fra)
- Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol)
- Josh Tarling (GB)
- Kévin Vauquelin (Fra)
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