Netcompany-Ineos leader Oscar Onley sheds 29 minutes after spooky crash in Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Netcompany-Ineos faced a challenging day at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as their general classification leader, Oscar Onley, suffered a significant crash on the final descent of stage 6. The incident occurred during the tricky downhill from the Côte d'Héry-sur-Ugine, with rider Matteo Jorgenson describing the fall as alarming after witnessing Onley go over the edge. Despite the severity of the crash, Onley managed to complete the stage, finishing nearly 30 minutes behind stage winner Maxim Van Gils, though he was promptly taken for medical assessment. The British team’s difficulties were compounded earlier in the stage when Josh Tarling also crashed and was seen holding his left arm in obvious discomfort. Subsequent reports confirmed Tarling had suffered a fracture and was transported to hospital in Chambéry for treatment. Meanwhile, Onley underwent further x-rays in Albertville as the team awaited updates on his condition. Netcompany-Ineos issued a brief statement confirming Onley’s crash and promising further information following medical evaluation. Adding to the team’s woes, their other GC contender, Kévin Vauquelin, was unable to respond to a late attack by Paul Seixas on the final climb to Crest-Voland. Vauquelin lost over a minute and a half to Seixas and fellow competitor Isaac del Toro, dropping from second overall to 15th place. The new race leader is Luke Tuckwell of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, who now holds a lead of nearly four minutes over Vauquelin, signalling a significant reshuffle in the general classification. The events of stage 6 have left Netcompany-Ineos in a precarious position as they assess the health of their riders and reconsider their strategy moving forward. Onley’s crash, in particular, raises concerns about his ability to continue competing at the highest level in this demanding race. With the team’s top riders facing setbacks, the coming stages will be crucial for their hopes in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and potentially beyond.