Oscar Onley’s meteoric rise in professional cycling has taken another dramatic turn, as the 23-year-old Scottish climbing sensation finalized a blockbuster transfer from Picnic PostNL to the powerhouse INEOS Grenadiers this winter. This move, marked by what’s rumored to be the most expensive contract buyout in cycling history, has sent shockwaves through the peloton and ignited speculation about Onley’s potential to become Britain’s next Grand Tour champion.
The numbers behind the deal are staggering. According to multiple reports, INEOS Grenadiers paid a sum that dwarfs even the sport’s most high-profile recent transfers. While Remco Evenepoel’s highly publicized move to Red Bull - BORA involved a contract buyout of around €2 million, Onley’s transfer is said to have cost INEOS at least double that figure—approximately €4 million. Some sources, including Cyclingnews, have even suggested the payout could have reached as high as €6 or €7 million, making it the largest of its kind to date. The British squad’s willingness to invest so heavily underscores their determination to return to the top of the Grand Tour hierarchy after recent years of ceding dominance to UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
For Onley, the move represents both a homecoming and a significant step up in his career. After years as a key points scorer for Picnic PostNL and its predecessor teams, he capped off a stellar 2025 season with a stage win and third place overall at the Tour de Suisse, followed by a breakthrough fourth-place finish at the Tour de France. That performance, especially his resilience in the Alps and his ability to challenge seasoned favorites, confirmed his status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Reflecting on his rapid ascent, Onley shared with the BBC, "It really feels like it came quite quickly in the last few months before the Tour. Everything started to click into place and so I was starting to gain a lot more confidence in myself as well." His self-assurance was on full display during the 2025 Tour de France, where he not only survived the grueling Pyrenean stages but even found himself in podium contention as the race entered the decisive Alpine climbs. Ultimately, he finished just a minute behind Florian Lipowitz, though the gap to the top two—Jonas Vingegaard and overall winner Tadej Pogacar—remained significant at eight and twelve minutes, respectively.
Still, Onley’s outlook remains optimistic. "I still feel very far away," he admitted, referencing the formidable lead of the front-runners. "To the front two, there is a big gap from the rest of us, but I definitely feel that, in the next couple of years, a podium finish is definitely possible if things go the right way for me. And there's also two other Grand Tours in Italy and Spain where sometimes the competition's slightly less deep. If it goes the right way, then why can't I try to win one of those?"
Onley’s Grand Tour ambitions are clear, but his sights are set even further ahead. The 2027 Tour de France, which will start in Edinburgh, Scotland, holds particular significance for the young rider. "It is something I'm really looking forward to," he said. "I think the UK and Scotland really put on a good show whenever big events come to the country, such as the Commonwealth Games or the road world cycling championships in Glasgow a couple of years ago." The prospect of competing for the yellow jersey on home soil, cheered on by friends and family, is a powerful motivator. "I have not been able to experience something like this in Scotland yet, but I really hope I can be there next year on the start line in Edinburgh and take everything in and to see friends and family there will be quite special."
INEOS Grenadiers, once the undisputed kings of the Grand Tours, have faced stiff competition in recent seasons. The emergence of UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Team Visma | Lease a Bike as dominant forces has forced the British team to rethink their strategy and invest heavily in emerging talent. Onley’s acquisition is a clear statement of intent. With his proven climbing prowess and youthful determination, the team hopes to groom him into a Tour de France contender capable of restoring their former glory.
The move also reunites Onley with a familiar face: Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France winner, who has transitioned from his illustrious racing career to the role of Head of Racing at INEOS Grenadiers. The two share a history from their days on the national team, and Onley is eager to learn from his compatriot’s wealth of experience. "He is someone I always looked up to. The way he can focus on a certain goal every year he's been professional," Onley said. "In the last few years racing beside him has been quite inspiring." Thomas’s mentorship could prove invaluable as Onley navigates the pressures and expectations that come with being the team’s new hope for Grand Tour success.
Onley’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. He debuted in a Grand Tour at the 2023 Vuelta a España, but failed to finish. The following year, he made his Tour de France debut, finishing a respectable 39th overall. The leap from those early efforts to a podium challenge in 2025 surprised many observers, but Onley’s steady progression and ability to peak at the right moment have set him apart from his peers.
As the 2026 season approaches, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how Onley will adapt to his new environment. INEOS Grenadiers have made it clear that they view him as a long-term leader, someone who can anchor their ambitions for years to come. The team’s deep resources and commitment to high-performance support should provide Onley with every opportunity to continue his upward trajectory.
Yet, the pressure is on. With a record-breaking buyout fee and the weight of British cycling’s expectations on his shoulders, Onley will need to deliver results. His performances in the coming months—whether in the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, or the Tour de France—will be closely scrutinized. The cycling world will be watching to see if INEOS’s gamble pays off, and whether Onley can bridge the gap to the sport’s elite.
For now, the buzz surrounding Oscar Onley and his historic move to INEOS Grenadiers shows no signs of fading. The stage is set for a thrilling new chapter in his career, and with the 2027 Tour de France in Edinburgh looming on the horizon, the stakes have never been higher. If Onley’s recent form is any indication, British cycling fans have plenty of reasons to dream big.
