The Tour de Romandie noticed the newest stage in Egan Bernal‘s restoration from the career-threatening crash he suffered again in early 2022.
The Colombian completed the five-day race in eighth general after inserting eighth on the Thyon 2000 summit end, in addition to working exhausting for Ineos Grenadiers sprinter Ethan Hayter on the flatter levels.
A prime 10 end result within the Swiss stage race represents one of the best end result attained by the 26-year-old since colliding with a bus whereas coaching in Colombia final January. The lengthy path again to his earlier Grand Tour-winning type continued in Romandie, with Bernal calling the race “one other good take a look at” for him.
“I feel it is one other good take a look at for me,” he advised Eurosport (opens in new tab) initially of the ultimate stage in Switzerland. “As I have been saying, for me that is simply days of gathered coaching and making an attempt to get again to one of the best model of me attainable. So, we’re taking it step-by-step and I feel there’s numerous work forward of us.”
Bernal’s prime 10 inserting got here off the again of a robust trip on the high-mountain summit end of Thyon 2000 on Saturday, the place he fought to eighth place at 54 seconds down o eventual winner Adam Yates.
The week additionally noticed him working for Hayter, together with an effort on the mid-race hills of the ultimate stage as he and Ineos sought to distance rival sprinters. Bernal mentioned that he is grateful for the help his group has given him, with the motivation remaining excessive as he continues the restoration course of.
“I’ve tried to do my greatest within the race and I am working actually exhausting,” Bernal mentioned. “I like what I am doing, and I feel we’re heading in the right direction, however we all know that there is nonetheless an extended method to go.
“I do not know the way far my physique can go however I simply need to do my greatest in order that once I retire from biking, I will be proud of what I’ve achieved and never have any regrets.
“I am responding to all the assistance and good vitality the group has given me, and the method they’ve achieved with me. That clearly motivates me to offer my greatest in races and each day in coaching at dwelling.”
There have been setbacks alongside the way in which for Bernal, notably this 12 months with a crash from fourth place on the Vuelta a San Juan which noticed him miss two months of racing with a knee harm after which one other crash that took him out of the Volta a Catalunya on the penultimate day.
He accomplished Itzulia Basque Nation in April and now has the Tour de Romandie beneath his belt, whereas subsequent month he’ll tackle the Tour de Hongrie and Tour of Norway forward of one other WorldTour stage race appointment in June.
“I feel I will do the Tour of Hungary, Tour of Norway after which I do not know if I will do the Dauphiné or Tour de Suisse. Let’s examine how the legs go.”
