Former Tour de France winner Egan Bernal has advised Colombian media that he’s aiming to make his comeback from a damaged collarbone damage within the upcoming Volta a Catalunya, whereas he additionally hopes the Giro d’Italia will type a part of his 2025 schedule.
Bernal bought off to a flying begin to the yr with back-to-back victories within the Colombian National Time Trial and Road Races, his first wins in 1,346 days after a horrible crash firstly of the 2022 season, solely to fall closely in his 2025 European debut on the Clásica Jaén and break his collarbone.
Cyclingnews reached out to Ineos Grenadiers to ask for affirmation that Bernal might be collaborating in Catalunya, however the squad merely answered that groups have but to be finalized for his or her upcoming races.
However, as Bernal advised ESPN, he has made a really quick restoration from his collarbone crash, and his subsequent step will, he hopes, be to participate within the Volta a Catalunya.
“When I needed to cease driving due to the crash, I used to be very fortunate as a result of principally, I misplaced three days coaching, however that was it,” he recounted.
“When I fell through the race, I had a teammate with me and I requested him ‘How does it look’ and he stated it seemed like a fracture.
“They confirmed that it was damaged on the hospital in Jaén, however by 11 that evening I used to be already having surgical procedure. Then after checking with one other physician if it was okay, he stated I may very well be again on the bike in two days.”
Currently coaching in Sicily, Bernal stated he’s feeling in good situation, and the numbers are good, though that the true take a look at of reality on the subject of type is all the time in races themselves.
“So I hope to compete in Catalunya, and do the absolute best there,” he added. “But I’m all the time additionally serious about my buildup for the Giro as a result of usually I’ll be collaborating in it. So I wish to get to the Giro in a very good place, and for that, I’ve to be good in Catalunya, too.”
Bernal has a prolonged and considerably chequered historical past with the Volta a Catalunya, considered one of his first-ever WorldTour stage races when he started driving for Ineos in 2018 and the place he clinched his first WorldTour podium end final March since his 2022 crash. Bernal additionally has had a 3rd place total in 2019, his finest season thus far, and was en path to second total in 2018 when he fell on the final stage, breaking each his shoulder – and his collarbone.
The Colombian has already reached one main landmark this season, successful once more for the primary time in 1,346 days. As he advised ESPN, getting his first victory once more couldn’t have occurred in a greater location than Colombia, notably as he had felt it was a really tough aim for him. “I believed it was a good distance off,” he stated.
“For now, my aim is to be again at my finest degree and don’t have any excuses – excuses for myself I imply. If I’m fifth, or tenth, or no matter, I wish to know what I can get.”
“When I retire or when 10 or 15 years go by, I do not wish to be in any doubt about what I might have achieved.”
The mountainous seven-day race options three summit finishes, at La Molina within the Pyrenees on stage 3, Montserrat on stage 4 and Queralt on stage 6, earlier than the normal showdown in Montjuic Park, Barcelona on Sunday, March 30.
Other high individuals alongside Bernal – assuming he lastly races. are anticipated to be Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) additionally heading to the Giro d’Italia and Tirreno-Adriatico winner Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) . If he has recovered from his Paris-Nice hand damage in time, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) will even be current, however as but his participation, like Bernal’s needs to be confirmed by the workforce.
