Big news shakes continental and Colombian cycling. After several weeks of uncertainty, the Ineos-Grenadiers team confirmed that Egan Bernal’s sporting recovery is a fact and he will be under their ranks in the upcoming Vuelta a España, scheduled from August 26 to September 17.
The British team revealed the roster that will be fighting in one of the three great tours of the world, behind the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Bernal will have his second appearance in this Iberian fight, after he finished sixth in the individual overall in 2021. The Colombian seems very motivated, although his role will be as a gregarious one and the goal may be to win a stage.
The 26-year-old rider will have Thymen Arensman, Jonathan Castroviejo, Laurens De Plus, Omar Fraile, Filippo Ganna, Kim Heiduk and Geraint Thomas in his team, who in principle will be the leader of Ineos, a team that wants to be the protagonist again before the power of the last years of the UAE and Jumbo.
According to various specialists, what Egan Bernal did in the last Tour de France was spectacular, as the South American led the main group on several occasions; in some stages he tried his legs and attacked and he also knew how to suffer in the hard three weeks of the Grande Boucle. For Ineos, his presentation was inspiring and there is a lot of motivation with what could be next year.
“I am very happy to have been selected for the Vuelta this year, I am finishing a good training block at home in Colombia and I feel very motivated to compete again,” said the Zipaquireño cyclist, in statements collected by his team.
“When I think back to the beginning of the year, I wasn’t sure where I was going to be right now; I dreamed of doing the Tour and the Vuelta, so this selection means a lot” added Bernal.
After his miraculous return from the big crash and potentially life-changing injury he suffered in 2022, the Colombian will be invaluable to the rest of the team, Ineos posted on his website.
In the Ineos team’s description of its participants, Thomas stands out, “the highly experienced and very popular Welshman, who already finished as runner-up in the Giro d’Italia this year, starts La Vuelta for the second time, marking the 19th Grand Tour of his career”.
Also highlighted in the group is “former time trial world champion, hour record holder and gold medalist, Filippo Ganna, who will make his debut in La Vuelta.
The Italian had a great start to the year with a successful classics campaign, but his initial season was cut short when he had to pull out of the Giro d’Italia with Covid-19. He has since returned to fitness, winning the Tour de Wallonie and then claiming medals at the recent World Championships in Scotland.”