- Apr 8, 2023
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He's done a lot of race days - maybe Ineos believe he can ride himself into some GC contender shape, but he must be getting very fatigued.
- Apr 16, 2009
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Bernal only rode for GC in one WT race. That's all. A lot of race days but was crashing quite a bit and not finishing at the beginning of the year. I think the Tour was excellent for him for his recovery. We'll learn more with this Vuelta about his recovery, but I doubt we should be talking about fatigue for race days. Maybe his injuries will bug him, but that is not due to his racing days.
- Mar 17, 2009
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The real question is what are Egan's goals riding La Vuelta? G is the leader, so is Egan going to be domestique Deluxe? Is he going for stage hunting? Is he going to be exclusively helping the Team while adding kilometers to the legs for racing form?
That's my impression, too. I would give him 2 full years to try to get back to GC contender shape but not force anything (perhaps that's why Froome showed initial recovery but then regressed?). He was starting from zero, plus with serious structural injuries.
- Mar 17, 2009
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and that's where the big problem lies, because 2 years to catch up to his old self is too long while the likes of Pogacar & Vingegaard will get stronger or the least maintain their current thermonuclear level. I wish nothing but the best to Egan, but the timing of his accident was the worst ever...
just my opinion
- Jan 8, 2020
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He was already in a downward turn with the bad back, although at the moment of his accident he seemed back to his old self. Yet the real problem is that old-self, 2019 Tour Bernal, still wasn't good enough to beat Pogacar and Vingegaard. Hence the serious matter is that Bernal has simply come up against rivals better than himself. The irony is that Brailsford thought he had the "Messi of cycling", not realizing bigger talents simply loomed over the horizon.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Same role as TGH in the Giro, but I doubt he’ll be good enough, so the same role as Arensman.
He was not at their top level although you could argue that pre back issues he had plenty of room to improve. (his Tour win was not totally convincing for a few reasons.) But even a Giro winning level is really, really good, and if he gets back to that it will be a real achievement.
I understand the skepticism, but Egan is a month younger than Vingegaard. All of Vingegaard's results have come after Bernal's impressive Giro win. Obviously the January 2022 crash has interrupted Bernal's development, but I don't know that we have enough information to understand what will happen to his career. Given the level of Vingegaard and Pogacar (and Remco), it's easy to doubt. But of all the reasons for concern, Bernal's age troubles me least. He will either regain his powers or not; missing two years will give him two years less to build his palmares, but I don't see that it will change the top of the performance arc. He will be 27 for the entire 2024 season. If it takes two years, he will still be in his athletic prime.
Cookster15
Moderator
- May 14, 2011
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The problem for Bernal is the open issue of his back problems - not his age. He is still only 26. Of course he might never rival Pogacar, Vingegaard and Remco but he can still be stronger than when he won the Tour.
He's won a tour and a Giro. I'm not sure it's fair to say he's less than Remco.
Also, peak, pre injury Bernal at 26 and in his prime finishes closer to Vingegaard than 7+ minutes at this year's tour.
- Jan 8, 2020
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Bernal won his Tour just in time, his Giro saved by the encouragement of a teammate, against a Caruso. I'm not sure about him, without injuries, taking Pog's place in this Tour, because he would likely have already been considerably down by the TT.
Fair questions. Let's hope he fully regains his health so we can see if he has answers. When Bernal is flying, he is a beautiful bike rider. I have to remind myself what terrific form he was on prior to the 2021 Giro as well. Pogi gets deserved love as a one-day rider, but Egan was super strong at the 2021 Strade Bianchi. I've wondered if he wasn't sick during the final third of the Giro, just holding on, as he was dominant up to the second rest day.
- Sep 11, 2016
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- Aug 13, 2011
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I think he’ll finish higher up than Landa.
- Feb 21, 2019
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With such a stacked field, I would be really surprised if Bernal gets into the final top10. In the interview below he says that his goal is to help Thomas and build the foundations for 2024:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/egan-bernal-im-here-at-the-vuelta-a-espana-to-help-the-team/
Cookster15
Moderator
- May 14, 2011
- 6,180
- 6,690
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If he finishes a mountain stage in the grupetto then yes. Otherwise, I think he might finish in the lower half of the top 10 - 8th?, only losing time at the end of the toughest MTFs and surprising in the TT. Really interested to see how he goes on the Angliru.
In my opinion Bernal should have targeted Vuelta this year and not to ride the Tour-Vuelta combo. But OK. Nice to see him back in the peloton and hopefully to see progress with each new race he participates in.
- Aug 3, 2015
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Looked like he dropped back to drag Thomas up the last 2 k today.
Solid ride from him, seems to be doing better and better. Lets hope he can keep this form in the Vuelta! This would be a great step forward to find the form to contend with the best next year.
I hope he can be in a break in one of the big mountain stages (tourmalet/angrilu).
I hope he can be in a break in one of the big mountain stages (tourmalet/angrilu).
- Apr 16, 2009
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- 6,854
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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.
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.
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