Teams & Riders The official Egan Bernal is the new Egan Bernal thread

[FroomeWagon]

Wtf is he doing???
He doesn't want to be bothered I assumed. I just don't get it. He is serious about just riding kilometers for next year and helping the others who are not a guarantee.

I assume he and the team decided before the race that he couldn't compete for the GC? At this point, it appears Ineos is a long shot at the podium. I guess Arensman is the team leader, but he is 12th right now with a lot of good riders in front of him.

It would be really interesting to hear what Ineos' management currently think of Bernal's prospects for the future. I thought I read that he is under contract until 2026, so maybe he isn't under any pressure to perform any time soon? I will say this about him, he doesn't seem to be a big ego guy (as a multi grand tour winner) where he thinks working for others is beneath him (ie Froome). For that reason, he will have a spot on the grand tour teams until 2026.

I hope he is saving his money from his current contract, as the next one may not be as big.

 

[Red Rick]

Bernal has 0 reason to give a crap about 9th place.

Better he ship 30 minutes as soon as possible to go stagehunting. Vuelta breaks can be a lot softer than the Tour.

 

[Escarabajo]

At Red. 100% don't agree. He needs to give a crap about top 10 because he needs to gain stamina and confidence after the horrible accident. In other times I agree. Not now. He needs to make a bigger effort. He needs to show more motivation. I would make him race everyday so that we can see his improvement.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I agree. I think he needs to ditch the idea of helping the others and start his own GC climb back bid. Follow the big guys and get back up the GC board. Work for next year.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Down 18 minutes and with no Ineos GC riders in the top 20 to work for, I think Bernal should be able to start targeting stages.

 

[Escarabajo]

I'd say the power is there, but the recuperation is still absent. I looks like if he had started from zero last year. He has ridden many kilometers nevertheless.

 

[Escarabajo]

Egan Bernal gave an interesting interview in Spanish in the second edition of Latin Cycling Legends in "La Movida". Several nice things to say about the interview were the following:

- Interesting to know that it was hard for him to land a job even when he scored a second place in the world championship in 2014 and 3rd in 2015. later in 2016 He got a job in RR with a Monaco team.
- When the transfer from the Monaco team to Savio's team, it came with a 5 year timeline. That was a huge indication that he was a big talent after his effort tests with the Monaco team.
- He still carries the back problems and seems to be very concerned about it. He said that the back problems developed for the worse in 2020 by working too many hours in the rollers. He said that his legs felt very good that year and his numbers were higher than in 2019 but his back gave up.
- There is no plan for 2024. It is a moot point if He doesn't get back to his old form. He plans to ride nationals and Tour Colombia in order to gain some confidence but from there on is undefined.
- he wants to win the Vuelta so that He completes the triple. Obviously.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFSURp4qI4

 

[Sciatic]

Egan Bernal gave an interesting interview in Spanish in the second edition of Latin Cycling Legends in "La Movida". Several nice things to say about the interview were the following:

- Interesting to know that it was hard for him to land a job even when he scored a second place in the world championship in 2014 and 3rd in 2015. later in 2016 He got a job in RR with a Monaco team.
- When the transfer from the Monaco team to Savio's team, it came with a 5 year timeline. That was a huge indication that he was a big talent after his effort tests with the Monaco team.
- He still carries the back problems and seems to be very concerned about it. He said that the back problems developed for the worse in 2020 by working too many hours in the rollers. He said that his legs felt very good that year and his numbers were higher than in 2019 but his back gave up.
- There is no plan for 2024. It is a moot point if He doesn't get back to his old form. He plans to ride nationals and Tour Colombia in order to gain some confidence but from there on is undefined.
- he wants to win the Vuelta so that He completes the triple. Obviously.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFSURp4qI4

Thanks for summarizing. Sad to hear his back is still so bad.

 

[Escarabajo]

Thanks for summarizing. Sad to hear his back is still so bad.

I don't think it is that bad. But he said it is still a concern and pain has not gone away.

 

[Tonton]

Egan Bernal seized his opportunity, a small window, good for him, but unless he goes nuclear holocaust, he won't win a GT again.

 

[Bolder]

I don't think it is that bad. But he said it is still a concern and pain has not gone away.

I developed a bulging disc and I have to manage it a little bit every day. I don't know how you could train like a pro cyclist if that's his problem. After 2-3 hours, even with a more upright position on my bike, I have to stop. In a more aero position, on the drops, no way.

 

[KZD]

If his fitness level improves even more, to level similar to 2019, I hope he gives Vuelta GC a try as its the only Grand Tour he has never won and often has a mountainous route with little TT kilometers which should suit him. We likely won't be one of the top favourites but can still have a chance of completing the treble.

Other than that, I would like to see him target some hilly one-day races especially Lombardia, where he was third in 2019 and the World Championships in years with hillier routes.

 

[Rob5091]

It's good news that Bernal has recovered from his big accident, but I must agree with Tonton that his Grand Tour winning days are over. Even with his pre-accident form, he'd have problems beating Pogacar & Vingegaard.

 

[pastronef]

It's good news that Bernal has recovered from his big accident, but I must agree with Tonton that his Grand Tour winning days are over. Even with his pre-accident form, he'd have problems beating Pogacar & Vingegaard.

Tour is out of question probably. another Giro could be possible

 

[Escarabajo]

I saw Thomas, Hindley, Almeida fighting for a GT win. Please! give me fricking break.
The issues with his health is the biggest concern in order to win a GT not his rivals. Please don't give me that story. Vingo and Pogacar are on another level. But Simon, Adam are riders that he has beaten before, even with pain in his back. If you are assuming that he won't recover or won't improve then you are right. But not because of his rivals.

 

[Cookster15]

Good to see Bernal win in the Colombian nationals. Hopefully this bodes well for the season ahead. Are there any updates on his back injury matter?

'I felt like the Egan of before' - Bernal shines at Colombian championships

Ineos Grenadiers rider takes first podium finish since winning the 2021 Giro d'Italia

www.cyclingnews.com

There was also some recent discussion of Bernal in the Pogacar thread, mostly around the merit of his 2019 TdF win.

Page 392 - Teams & Riders - Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

Page 392 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

But Bernal was 22 years-old when he won the Tour and was the new "Messi". He was a better TTer than Quintana and could fight for victory in Strade Bianche. I realize Quintana was very good, but Bernal was more complete. Bernal won the Tour and Giro, so it's arguable Quintana was the better Grand Tour rider, who won Giro and Vuelta. It's feasable that peak Bernal could go mano a mano against Vingo and Poggi, but alas back problems and the crash will likely never let us know.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Good to hear the old feelings are back. Fingers crossed for a good season.

 

[Extinction]

Good to hear the old feelings are back. Fingers crossed for a good season.

I really do hope his best days are not behind him, as such me would add salt to the pot.

 

[Unchained]

Guy rode lights out,, he said so.. his result was tempo and feeling and he is revisiting times of great. I don't know what he felt like before hitting a van,what he felt like after a TDF victory, but if he says he is feeling good, feeling something similar, watch the fork out

 

[AmRacer]

Guy rode lights out,, he said so.. his result was tempo and feeling and he is revisiting times of great. I don't know what he felt like before hitting a van,what he felt like after a TDF victory, but if he says he is feeling good, feeling something similar, watch the fork out

Then they are five.

 

[ManicJack]

Good to see Bernal win in the Colombian nationals.

3rd is a great result, but not a win. Hope to see him in the mix again this year.

 

[Unchained]

3rd is a great result, but not a win. Hope to see him in the mix again this year.

For those that watch American football and specifically, this weekends championship games, multiple players commented that public opinion and media saying that players and teams were the underdog gave them motivation that they wouldn't have had without the loud stoking of doubt.
You can see and hear that Bernal is getting something, getting inspiration and motivation from constantly hearing and reading that he is done, he can't come back.
Won't see me saying he is finished, I am in a state of constant amazement that he literally came back from the dead to be standing on the podium at nationals.. Impressive for anyone

 

[JRanton]

He’s done very well to even get back to this level but is it fair to say his role in the biggest races is unlikely to be anything more than climbing domestique/stage hunter?

 

[Escarabajo]

I see that many people in this forum is sub-estimating the Tour Colombia. It is hard to tell from what we have seen. They were pushing very hard if you ask me.

 

[Cookster15]

He is still improving. It is premature to predict where his fitness trajectory could take him. For possible grand tours there is also that back problem matter which seemed to be a problem by the 2nd week?

Looking at the Tour of Colombia, sure they are not at peak form but there are some big Colombian and Ecuadorian names there. It’s a good test for him.