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

[Cookster15]

Hard to believe what is unfolding. A freak of nature. Performance like today at his age makes me shake my head. It will be interesting to follow his progress under Sky but also how he manages his efforts and tactics when he becomes a leader in a Grand Tour. But when you have this obvious talent to start with all that is so much easier.

 

[Oliwright]

SKY acquired the most precious asset in Cycling. I only hope and pray they handle & nurture him with the proper care. Egan Bernal is destined to greatness!!

Well Sky are doing a good job so far. People give Sky a hard time about developing riders, but when you have Froome it's understandably not a priority. Also, they have done an excellent job in developing riders such as: Poel, Thomas, Rowe & Porte.

 

[jaylew]

6th TDU
1st Colombian TT
1st Oro y Paz
2nd Catalunya (before crashing out in final stage)
2nd Romandie
1st TOC
Plus good results at the end of 2017

He almost always seems to be at a high level. And he's 21? He could wind up being really special. That said, is he really that much ahead of where Nairo was? Nairo was maybe a behind him a year age-wise, I guess.

We've been on a roll with L'Avenir winners. Last real disappointment is Sicard from 9 years ago though maybe Ruben needs to start showing more soon to keep the streak going.

 

[Red Rick]

Well that's a result that's par for the course.

 

[WheelofGear]

He could lead the Vuelta already this year and ride at least into the top 5, maybe even podium or overall victory.

 

[Climber123]

Would he have won the Zoncolan stage today with this form?

 

[Hayabusa]

Re:

Would he have won the Zoncolan stage today with this form?

Too early to say, given he doesn't have the GT experience.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Would he have won the Zoncolan stage today with this form?

No. Competition is different. Additionally 3 weeks races are also different We are yet to find out his recuperation abilities.

 

[PremierAndrew]

You've got to be careful of overhyping him but it still blows my mind that at the age of 21 he put 1.30 into Adam Yates and Majka when the time gaps between everyone else were around 10-20s

 

[DNP-Old]

Initial plan was to ride Route du Sud, but it's probably going to be either Dauphiné or Suisse instead. I think it'd be good for him to take a step back, have the spotlight dim for a bit and just have fun in Route du Sud, rather than having to be a dom for Thomas. Route du Sud > San Sebastian > Burgos > Vuelta would be perfect in my book.

 

[DNP-Old]

So much for that, then: https://www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/en/riders

Thomas, Castroviejo, Bernal, Moscon, Kwiatkowski, Rowe, Stannard,

 

[Red Rick]

Guess we know who will win the Dauphine

 

[Netserk]

With the TTT and not having to save strength for July, I have a hard time seeing who else would be the main favorite.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

With the TTT and not having to save strength for July, I have a hard time seeing who else would be the main favorite.

Yeah, most of the main contenders are going to Suisse as well cause of the extra week inbetween.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I love his CQ ranking graph

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

I love his CQ ranking graph

2016 could have been so much better as well, but he lost several races due to mechanical failures and saw his entire GC go up in smoke. Trentino and Coppi e Bartali for instance. In the latter he was even well on his way to victory after dropping everyone on Monte Tiffi, instead he had to finish 45th or something.

 

[yaco]

Dauphine is much better race for Bernal than Tour De Suisse - Will he or Thomas be the leader ?

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re:

Dauphine is much better race for Bernal than Tour De Suisse - Will he or Thomas be the leader ?

Unfortunately Sky can't confirm that Bernal will or sholud be a real leader.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

I love his CQ ranking graph

And he lost guaranteed points crashing out of Catalunya in the final stage while in 2nd.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Initial plan was to ride Route du Sud, but it's probably going to be either Dauphiné or Suisse instead. I think it'd be good for him to take a step back, have the spotlight dim for a bit and just have fun in Route du Sud, rather than having to be a dom for Thomas. Route du Sud > San Sebastian > Burgos > Vuelta would be perfect in my book.

He wont domestique for Thomas lol. The route suits Bernal better and there's only a very little TT where he probably wont lose more than 10-15 seconds to Geraint. The fact that he isn't preparing for the Tour and that the Tour is scheduled one week later also helps tremendously, they are at least going into the race as co-leaders, but everyone knows whats up.

I can't possibly think that Thomas is outclimb Egan in Dauphine, I just cant.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

Initial plan was to ride Route du Sud, but it's probably going to be either Dauphiné or Suisse instead. I think it'd be good for him to take a step back, have the spotlight dim for a bit and just have fun in Route du Sud, rather than having to be a dom for Thomas. Route du Sud > San Sebastian > Burgos > Vuelta would be perfect in my book.

He wont domestique for Thomas lol. The route suits Bernal better and there's only a very little TT where he probably wont lose more than 10-15 seconds to Geraint. The fact that he isn't preparing for the Tour and that the Tour is scheduled one week later also helps tremendously, they are at least going into the race as co-leaders, but everyone knows whats up.

I can't possibly think that Thomas is outclimb Egan in Dauphine, I just cant.

The only races in which Egan was a designated leader were in Tour Down Under and this week in Cali, everything else was circumstantial. Checho was the leader in Oro y Paz and Catalunya, Thomas was the leader in Romandia. If Thomas was up to form, Egan would probably already have been working for him there. Let alone in the Dauphine, the most important and biggest test prior to the Tour, which Thomas will also be leading.

Y'all getting out of control.

 

[Valv.Piti]

There is a difference between 'domming' for someone and then having a free role. Bernal obviously had a free role in Catalunya and Romandie and then obviously went on to be the leader and the same will happen in Dauphine. If he is stronger than Thomas, which he most likely will be all things considered, he will be leading. SImple as.

 

[DNP-Old]

Lol, Egan admitted as much himself this past week. It was only until after the stage to Salento that he got a free role, it was only until after the MTT in Villars and Thomas' no show that roles were changed. I wouldn't expect it to be any different this time, when Thomas is in full buildup mode to the biggest race of the year.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Lol, Egan admitted as much himself this past week. It was only until after the stage to Salento that he got a free role, it was only until after the MTT in Villars and Thomas' no show that roles were changed. I wouldn't expect it to be any different this time, when Thomas is in full buildup mode to the biggest race of the year.

I don't think the roles are as static as you describe them. Egan isn't carrying water or keeping him out of the wind, but is sitting in the bunch and saving energy for the finale where he will be of the most use anyways. And when he proves to be the stronger rider, they will most likely roll with him.

But its a stupid discussion anyways. Only time will tell what happens, but I cant possibly believe that Sky is that ***.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

Only time will tell what happens, but I cant possibly believe that Sky is that ***.

I said the same thing when someone made the claim in the Cali thread that he would be a domestique for GT in the Vuelta. Sky can't possibly be that dense, unless they're playing charades. Keep him out of the spotlights, sure. Don't burden him with leadership, but don't burn him either. And when GT fails, he'll be right there to pick up the pieces. Just, let him fly free and see where he lands.