Egan Bernal deserted the Vuelta a San Juan within the opening kilometres of stage 6 as a result of a knee damage. The Colombian had been mendacity fourth total after a robust show on Friday’s decisive mountain stage to Alto Colorado.
“Egan Bernal has reluctantly withdrawn from the Vuelta a San Juan as a result of ache in his left knee sustained within the crash he was concerned in on stage one of many race,” learn an announcement from Ineos Grenadiers following his surprising withdrawal.
Cyclingnews understands that Bernal’s knee ache flared up following his fourth-place end atop Alto Colorado on Friday, however he was initially hopeful of constructing it by means of stage 6. When the ache recurred in the course of the quick opening to the stage, he opted to withdraw as a precaution. It’s unclear if the damage will have an effect on his participation in subsequent week’s Colombian Championships.
Bernal reportedly injured his left knee when he was caught up in a crash within the finale of stage 1. In January of final 12 months, Bernal suffered accidents that included fractures to his proper kneecap and femur in a coaching crash.
That efficiency on Alto Colorado on Friday was Bernal’s finest since that incident, and it had appeared to augur effectively for his prospects on the Colombian nationwide championships subsequent week. Bernal climbed off 18km into Satuday’s penultimate stage.
“The numbers had been there once I was coaching at residence, however it’s one factor to do it in coaching and one other to do it in a race,” Bernal had advised reporters on the end of stage 5, the place was fourth, 40 seconds behind winner Miguel Ángel López (Medellín-EPM). “That offers me quite a lot of morale and confidence, in addition to the motivation to need extra.”
