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

[topcat]

Ciro Scognamiglio (la gazzetta) reporting that Bernal has finished his season at the Coppa Sabatini.

Bernal, stagione finita. Torna in Colombia per operarsi, niente Croazia e Lombardia

Il colombiano deve sottoporsi a un intervento alla rotula già programmato che fa parte del percorso verso il completo recupero

www.gazzetta.it

He did not start memorial Pantani, and the plan as we know was the Tour of Croatia and then Lombardia. But now Bernal is apparently heading back to Colombia for a necessary operation on his Patella tendon, before some rest and building towards 2023.

Nobody started memorial Pantani. Cancelled due to showers. Nibs would have won if they didn't girl out of it.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nobody started memorial Pantani. Cancelled due to showers. Nibs would have won if they didn't girl out of it.

Well there is no doubt about that.

Anyway I was thinking that I couldn't remember anything about Memorial Pantani when I posted that

 

[KZD]

Bernal thinking about returning at the Tour next year and possibly doing the following races before (according to CN):

Tour Colombia
Nationals
Strade Bianche
Paris-Nice
Dauphiné

 

[sir fly]

We need them all fit&ready.

As much as Evenepoel's advantage in time trialing is, that much should be Bernal's at the altitude.
With Pogačar and Vingegaard somewhere in-between.

 

[bNator]

We need them all fit&ready.

As much as Evenepoel's advantage in time trialing is, that much should be Bernal's at the altitude.
With Pogačar and Vingegaard somewhere in-between.

You think Bernal is better than Pogačar and Vingegaard at altitude?

 

[sir fly]

You think Bernal is better than Pogačar and Vingegaard at altitude?

Not by much than Vingegaard.
The longer the effort, the wider the gap.

 

[Escarabajo]

It is a moot point to discuss anything about Bernal today. Let him get back to racing first.

 

[sir fly]

It is a moot point to discuss anything about Bernal today. Let him get back to racing first.

Tomorrow then.

 

[Red Rick]

It is a moot point to discuss anything about Bernal today. Let him get back to racing first.

He has 12 race days this year though.

 

[YavorD]

Not by much than Vingegaard.
The longer the effort, the wider the gap.

May I ask what you base your opinion on?

 

[sir fly]

May I ask what you base your opinion on?

Common sense.

 

[Cookster15]

May I ask what you base your opinion on?

Being born at 8,600 feet above sea level can have its advantages.

Its not a given but Bernal gave strong hints at the 2019 TdF. The shortened stage 19 he was untouchable the higher the roads went, he just rode away from Geraint Thomas on Col de l'Iseran. That day was just as sir fly described - the longer the effort, the wider the gap.

On Pogacar, in 2020 TdF he lost 15 seconds to Roglic on the summit of Col de la Loze (2,304metres). That stage was won by another Colombian - MAL. It is only one example but it did raise question marks.

But I haven't seen enough of Vingegaard at high altitude to form an opinion on him in that terrain. People can point to stage 11 in 2022 TdF but I think the outcome was due to Jumbo's great teamwork and Pog blowing himself up - not the altitude?

Everyone responds differently to altitude it is difficult to predict until it actually happens. But even if Egan gets back racing I think there are still question marks on his back condition?

 

[sir fly]

Being born at 8,600 feet above sea level can have its advantages.

Its not a given but Bernal gave strong hints at the 2019 TdF. The shortened stage 19 he was untouchable the higher the roads went, he just rode away from Geraint Thomas on Col de l'Iseran. That day was just as sir fly described - the longer the effort, the wider the gap.

On Pogacar, in 2020 TdF he lost 15 seconds to Roglic on the summit of Col de la Loze (2,304metres). That stage was won by another Colombian - MAL. It is only one example but it did raise question marks.

But I haven't seen enough of Vingegaard at high altitude to form an opinion on him in that terrain. People can point to stage 11 in 2022 TdF but I think the outcome was due to Jumbo's great teamwork and Pog blowing himself up - not the altitude?

Everyone responds differently to altitude it is difficult to predict until it actually happens. But even if Egan gets back racing I think there are still question marks on his back condition?

Don't forget the Giro exploits.

 

[YavorD]

Being born at 8,600 feet above sea level can have its advantages.

Its not a given but Bernal gave strong hints at the 2019 TdF. The shortened stage 19 he was untouchable the higher the roads went, he just rode away from Geraint Thomas on Col de l'Iseran. That day was just as sir fly described - the longer the effort, the wider the gap.

On Pogacar, in 2020 TdF he lost 15 seconds to Roglic on the summit of Col de la Loze (2,304metres). That stage was won by another Colombian - MAL. It is only one example but it did raise question marks.

But I haven't seen enough of Vingegaard at high altitude to form an opinion on him in that terrain. People can point to stage 11 in 2022 TdF but I think the outcome was due to Jumbo's great teamwork and Pog blowing himself up - not the altitude?

Everyone responds differently to altitude it is difficult to predict until it actually happens. But even if Egan gets back racing I think there are still question marks on his back condition?

I agree with your examples, however, as other people in this forum, I don't think that altitude is the magic wand that will turn a rider significantly better or worse, except for a selected few (name Valverde and perhaps Lopez).
I think it's mostly down to climbing ability and I'm not convinced that Bernal at his best is in Vingegaard's league. With Pogacar I think is more about the really long efforts (see even Ventoux as a notable example) that huts him, not the altitude that much. Put him in the Dolomites stage next year and he is my favorite to win it.

 

[Escarabajo]

He has 12 race days this year though.

Real racing!

 

[Cookster15]

I don't think that altitude is the magic wand

It isn't which is why I said "Its not a given ". But I am less certain how Bernal's back will hold up over a three week grand tour. Even with a full season of racing we won't know until it actually happens - neither will he. But in the meantime I hope we can see him make a successful return to racing.

 

[YavorD]

It isn't which is why I said "Its not a given ". But I am less certain how Bernal's back will hold up over a three week grand tour. Even with a full season of racing we won't know until it actually happens - neither will he. But in the meantime I hope we can see him make a successful return to racing.

Is his back the main problem, I thought his recent injuries were different?
I suspect even one week races would give a how whether he can be back or not, but I certainly hope he comes back to his best.

 

[Cookster15]

Is his back the main problem, I thought his recent injuries were different?
I suspect even one week races would give a how whether he can be back or not, but I certainly hope he comes back to his best.

I don't think his back fragility reveals itself in one day or even week long stage races. It is a condition that reveals itself on the grind of three week grand tours. Edit: He cracked on stage 15 of 2020 TdF and nobody expected that with the preceding season of racing from him.

 

[BR2]

With the non-support Alaphilippe gets I'm very happy that Bernal sounds so positive about his last year and his current state. I hope he has a really good year that satisfies him. I don't expect him to have the super big wins, just race nicely, hopefully without pain, and be happy.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Time to find out where Bernal is

 

[tobydawq]

Time to find out where Bernal is

I'm pretty sure he is in Argentina.

 

[BR2]

I'm pretty sure he is in Argentina.

You should be called Logic-is-your-friend.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

That was better than I dared hope for. We still don't know whether his ceiling will return to what it was, but we do know now he won't be another Froome or Beloki. Really encouraging day.

 

[hfer07]

I liked what I watched today. good test & good performance
Not quite there yet, but surely very encouraging, given the seriousness of his injuries.

 

[Escarabajo]

Better than I expected TBH. And he was in front of Ganna for some time. Also did some chasing of Lopez and Higuita. Good workout!