Netcompany INEOS posts poor performance at 2026 Tour de France
Netcompany INEOS entered the 2026 Tour de France with a €50 million budget but failed to secure a significant result. The British squad finished second in the team time trial and briefly threatened the yellow jersey when Filippo Ganna was close to taking the maillot jaune.
The campaign was hampered by multiple setbacks: Oscar Onley crashed in Auvergne–Rhône, sustaining a shoulder dislocation and bruises; Kevin Vauquelin suffered a puncture and later fell ill, delivering a weak performance in the same region. Team selection proved controversial – climber Carlos Rodríguez, who had shown promise as a general‑classification outsider, was dropped, while recent Giro riders Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal were added despite not matching the form of top contenders. Former rider Geraint Thomas, appointed director of racing after his 2025 retirement, oversaw these decisions.
These issues left the team without a realistic podium chance and highlighted internal tactical and selection challenges.
Entities: Filippo Ganna · Geraint Thomas · Kevin Vauquelin · Netcompany INEOS · Oscar Onley
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The team finished second in the team time trial stage.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Geraint Thomas became director of racing for INEOS after retiring in 2025.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Netcompany INEOS had a budget of €50 million for the 2026 Tour de France.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Filippo Ganna was close to taking the yellow jersey during the race.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Carlos Rodríguez was removed from the team's roster.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kevin Vauquelin suffered a puncture during the Tour.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Oscar Onley crashed in Auvergne–Rhône, sustaining a shoulder dislocation and bruises.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kevin Vauquelin fell ill and performed poorly in Auvergne.