Oscar Onley to Debut with Ineos Grenadiers at Volta ao Algarve

Twenty-three-year-old Scottish cyclist Oscar Onley is scheduled to participate in his inaugural race for the Ineos Grenadiers team at the forthcoming Volta ao Algarve.

Onley's move to the British WorldTour squad from Picnic PostNL, where he turned professional in 2023, was officially announced two days before Christmas last year. He cited the unique opportunity to represent his home country's team as an irresistible draw.

The Volta ao Algarve will also mark the debut for another Ineos Grenadiers rider, Kévin Vauquelin, a Tour de France stage winner who transitioned from Arkéa-B&B Hotels. Both athletes are poised to commence their racing season at this event.

The Volta ao Algarve is slated to run from February 18-22, commencing in Vila Real de Santo António and culminating in Malhão. Onley garnered considerable transfer attention after securing a commendable fourth-place finish at last summer's Tour de France. This achievement equaled the best performance by a Scottish cyclist, a record previously set by Pippa York in 1984.

Despite having a contract with Picnic PostNL until 2027, Onley's agreement was terminated following a compelling offer from Ineos Grenadiers. Geraint Thomas, the team's director of racing, expressed his enthusiasm for Onley's arrival, highlighting his impressive 2025 performance and mature understanding of races. Thomas also hinted at Onley's future participation in prestigious events such as Paris-Nice and the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes, with an expectation that he will lead Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France, starting in Barcelona on July 4.

This week, the Volta ao Algarve unveiled its competitive starting lineup, which includes notable cyclists such as João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Filippo Ganna and Thymen Arensman are also confirmed to join Onley and Vauquelin as part of the seven-rider Ineos Grenadiers contingent, setting the stage for an exciting race.