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

[Ilmaestro99]

We clearly saw in the 2018 Lombardia: Pinot>Nibali>>Bernal>>Roglič

Finally an actually knowledgeable cycling expert and not a fanboy with biases

We can see from lombardia 2021 where Fausto Masnada stands in all this

 

[Froome]

Soon people will start saying that indurain was lucky to win the tour 5 times because he didn't have to race pogacar or Vingegard.

Let's face it, those people who said Bernal was lucky, can also say the same about Pogacar in this Giro 2024, but it would be unfair for Bernal, because he faced more fierce competition in 2019!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Neither is it outrageous to believe he would have won one more. Bernal aint no slouch and he's finally back, but this Tour is just too much right now I think, even though I could actually see him podium given the questions we have about the absolute best riders.

Since he didn't quite reach his Giro 2021 level in the Vuelta, and also with the back issues in mind, I don't want to set the bar too high either.

 

[Savant12]

Let's see how his legs go in Suisse. A top result then I think there's a good shout for a Tour podium.

 

[Unchained]

Let's face it, those people who said Bernal was lucky, can also say the same about Pogacar in this Giro 2024, but it would be unfair for Bernal, because he faced more fierce competition in 2019!

Bernal has lots of possibilities, lots of transfer chatter about Marc Hirschi, so we will see who UAE is going to choose, FDJ has Kung who is hit or miss, EF sending a decent bunch, and what or who will Pidcock be to Bernal? I have high hopes for the race and for Bernal to shine. For me it's exciting to think of how UAE will use Del Toro, Hirschi has been going pretty good lately, we will see if him being Swiss ends up being that important..If I was betting, EF will win the race.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Even if Bernal exceeds his previous best what do we get? His crowning achievement to this point has been finishing 1:11 in front of teammate Thomas in the TDF, Alaphillipe was 5th in GC! Kruijswijk was 3rd for heaven sakes. Bernal is a nice racer, it sucks that he's been so far below his best for so long through no fault of his own, but he's in no way the sort of generational talent that Pogacar or Vingegaard or even Remco are. He's just not.

Geraint Thomas is lucky to win in 2018. The two other riders on the podium were doing the Giro-Tour double with one of them being his own teammate, a young still learning the ropes Roglic in fourth, and of all people Kruijswijk in fifth finally showing something at the Tour. Thomas is a nice rider and it sucks he’s had to slave away for Froome and Wiggins but he’s gotten curb stomped by Pogacar and Vingegaard while also being humiliated by Roglic. He’s shown he’s in no way the sort of generational talent like the others, he’s just not.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Since he didn't quite reach his Giro 2021 level in the Vuelta, and also with the back issues in mind, I don't want to set the bar too high either.

Even still if he and Adam were swapped Bernal has a good chance to be on the podium despite doing a double and having his back issues.

 

[Oldermanish]

The crash happened when he was already found out to be a solid tier below Roglic.

The bus collision was after the back/knee issues that contributed to that level of form, to be fair. He's taken a f*ckin beating after his fortunate Tour win. That can't do much for the psyche of a lesser competitor so IMO he's accomplished pretty great things. He didn't quit.

 

[Escarabajo]

Keep working and be patient. Could have been better, but from where he was at the beginning of the year (or last year) not a bad result.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Let's face it, those people who said Bernal was lucky, can also say the same about Pogacar in this Giro 2024, but it would be unfair for Bernal, because he faced more fierce competition in 2019!

Everybody and their grandma knew that Teddy Merckx was gonna rule in the Giro so top guys chickened out (except Thomas, who tried his luck and counted on external factors). Looking at Teddy's climbing domestiques (and extrapolating their level) I feel the same will happen at the Tour: there will be only Thomas and a bunch of sprinters. The rest will focus on Vuelta (hoping that the Cannibal won't go there). Mark my words.

 

[Sciatic]

Everybody and their grandma knew that Teddy Merckx was gonna rule in the Giro so top guys chickened out (except Thomas, who tried his luck and counted on external factors). Looking at Teddy's climbing domestiques (and extrapolating their level) I feel the same will happen at the Tour: there will be only Thomas and a bunch of sprinters. The rest will focus on Vuelta (hoping that the Cannibal won't go there). Mark my words.

Regardless of your particular take, saying “mark my words” is an empty expression unless you can put down a marker. How many posters come back to comment in a post-GT race thread and say here is where I got it wrong 5 weeks ago?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Regardless of your particular take, saying “mark my words” is an empty expression unless you can put down a marker. How many posters come back to comment in a post-GT race thread and say here is where I got it wrong 5 weeks ago?

I’d think it’d be therapeutic for some.

 

[ppanther92]

Thomas, Ala and Kruijswijk were much better back then than they are now.

Hm, the other two for sure but with Thomas I am not so sure. Not completely absurd that 2022 Thomas was his best version. And matching that would mean being able to podium the Tour for Bernal. And I actually think that he can top 5. Just Vingegaard and Pogacar are out of reach if everything goes as expected for them. But they are out of reach for everyone.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Let's see how his legs go in Suisse. A top result then I think there's a good shout for a Tour podium.

Bernal doesn't look like TDF podium material right now. He has two weeks to find some power. Will he even be allowed to ride for GC this year? I am not so sure.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ofc he is "allowed" to ride GC. Why bring him otherwise? Carlos Rodriguez is just not the undisputed captain, neither is Pidders nor Bernal. These guys have to show it on the road.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Ofc he is "allowed" to ride GC. Why bring him otherwise? Carlos Rodriguez is just not the undisputed captain, neither is Pidders nor Bernal. These guys have to show it on the road.

Appears that Ineos has selected Bernal and Rodriguez as the team leaders.

https://www.ineosgrenadiers.com/news/2024-tour-de-france-squad-announced/

 

[Nick2413]

Appears that Ineos has selected Bernal and Rodriguez as the team leaders.

https://www.ineosgrenadiers.com/news/2024-tour-de-france-squad-announced/

Rodriguez legit podium material, Pidcock potential stage win, Bernal hopefully top 10 with some stage near wins.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

„The Giro last month was a perfect example of how we love to race as a team - putting the pressure on, fighting for every opportunity, and taking chances“ Damn, I didn‘t know Ineos know how to write good satire!

 

[tristecsinamigos]

Does he has COVID too, or what?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Does he has COVID too, or what?

Just not good. Even before his crash, it was obvious he was one step below Roglic so he would be a top5 contender at his best these days. After his crash, he is no longer able to be a GC contender (top5).

 

[FroomeWagon]

Just not good. Even before his crash, it was obvious he was one step below Roglic so he would be a top5 contender at his best these days. After his crash, he is no longer able to be a GC contender (top5).

After losing the podium at the TDS on the final day, I had a bad feeling for the TDF.

 

[Escarabajo]

Just not good. Even before his crash, it was obvious he was one step below Roglic so he would be a top5 contender at his best these days. After his crash, he is no longer able to be a GC contender (top5).

So his normal level is loosing 42 minutes on yesterday stage?
Ok thanks.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I think this season as a whole has shown that he is way better than what he was coming back last year. I expect to see him fighting for gc again next year in perhaps a mediocre giro field.

 

[Escarabajo]

He has always ahead or the leading group in every race, continental or WT this year. I am afraid something is off here. Could be related to over racing, sick, mental, or still issues with recuperation. But to think that this is his normal level is very silly.

 

[FroomeWagon]

So his normal level is loosing 42 minutes on yesterday stage?
Ok thanks.

I like Bernal and want to see him do well, but I think we have to be realistic now. He was down 14:37 and in 13th place before yesterdays stage began. In fact, he was down 8:27 to Rodriguez before yesterdays stage. After the accident, he just isn't going to get to the very top of the sport again.

In the future, I think he could possibly podium at the Giro or Vuelta depending on the field (after all Thomas made the podium at this years Giro), but I think his days of leadership at the TDF (at least at Ineos) are probably over. Furthermore, I think Bernal still has two more years on his contract, so he won't be leaving Ineos anytime soon and I can't imagine Ineos isn't going to make some huge changes in the off season to try and fix their GC problems. (Ineos is currently in 18th, out of 22 teams, in PCS standings at this years tour even with a top 5 budget. )