Briton Onley out of Tour de France with shoulder injury

Briton Oscar Onley, who finished fourth in the race last year, has been forced to pull out of next month's Tour de France due to a shoulder injury, his team said on Thursday.

Onley, who has had a season disrupted by injuries and illness, dislocated his shoulder in a crash during the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes earlier this month.

He crashed over a safety barrier on a speedy descent and was saved from a fall down into a ravine when he was caught in the branches of a tree,.

"Further medical investigations have confirmed a significant shoulder injury," Netcompany Ineos said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, this means Oscar will be unable to compete in this year's Tour de France."

The 23-year-old managed to finish the sixth stage in Auvergne despite his crash, but rolled over the line almost half an hour after the stage winner.

He pulled out of the race before the next stage.

"I'm gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year," said the Scot.

"My focus is now on recovering and getting my shoulder in a good place, but I'm really motivated to try and make something out of this season."

He has been unable to finish in three of his five stage races this year.

He finished fourth overall at the Tour of the Algarve in February but then had to pull out of Paris-Nice in March with illness. A stomach bug also forced him out of the Tour of Romandie a couple of months later.

In between, he had managed a disappointing 12th-placed finish at the Tour of Catalonia.