Ineos Grenadiers have confirmed that Egan Bernal will make his European season debut on the Volta a Catalunya subsequent week, regardless of organisers of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali having already introduced that the Colombian could be beginning their race.
In a press launch (opens in new tab) issued by GS Emilia on Monday, Bernal was listed among the many marquee names set to race the five-day stage race, which runs from March 21-25. Nevertheless, Ineos introduced on Tuesday afternoon that the 26-year-old would as an alternative head up their squad for the fifth WorldTour stage race of the season in Spain on March 20-26.
Bernal was final in motion on the Vuelta a San Juan in January, taking a promising fourth place on the Alto Colorado summit end earlier than being pressured to abandon on the penultimate stage because of knee ache.
He went on to skip the Colombian Nationwide Championships, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Paris-Good consequently, with both Coppi e Bartali or Catalunya internet hosting his return to racing.
Ineos Grenadiers staff supervisor Rod Ellingworth confirmed to Cyclingnews final week that Bernal would return to racing in late March, both on the Volta a Catalunya and the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. The Italian race seems to be the popular choice for Bernal by way of a extra gradual return to racing.
Bernal stayed in Colombia in March and underwent therapy at residence. He lately instructed on Instagram that he spent two weeks away from critical highway coaching however has been again in full coaching for a number of days.
Now, after an obvious mixup on behalf of the organisers of the Italian race, Bernal is now confirmed to be making his profession debut at Catalunya.
He’ll be joined on the week-long race by Geraint Thomas, who continues his build-up to the Giro d’Italia in his first race because the Tour Down Below. Ethan Hayter additionally returns to racing following a damaged collarbone suffered on the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Street Race, whereas Jonathan Castroviejo, Luke Plapp, Salvatore Puccio, and Ben Tulett spherical out the roster.
At Catalunya, Bernal and his teammates will probably be taking over a stronger area than is current on the 1.1-rated Coppi e Bartali race, with world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious), Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), Richard Carapaz (EF Schooling-EasyPost), and UAE Staff Emirates pair João Almeida and Adam Yates all lining up for the beginning in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
Three robust mountain levels to Vallter, La Molina and Lo Port lie in look forward to the GC hopefuls, whereas the race concludes with its conventional nearer at Montjuïc Park in Barcelona.
Bernal missed a lot of the 2022 season as a result of life-threatening coaching crash final January, which left him with a fractured vertebra, proper femur and patella, and an extended rehabilitation interval. He returned to racing on the Tour of Denmark final August and spent the winter making ready for a full season of racing in 2023.
“He is clearly been a bit annoyed however we’re supporting him,” Ellingworth informed Cyclingnews.
“It has been reported that he’s had a knee niggle, which has nothing to do with the crash or the accident from final yr. Egan’s wanting to race however usually with these guys, you’ve bought to carry him again.”
Bernal’s accidents have left Ineos Grenadiers with no true 2023 Tour de France contender.
Geraint Thomas stepped up final yr to complete third on the Tour de France behind Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates), however the veteran Welshman will goal the Giro d’Italia this yr in what may very well be the ultimate season of his lengthy profession.
“I do not assume it is attainable to win the Tour on a regular basis,” Ellingworth conceded with honesty, naming Dani Martínez and Carlos Rodriguez as their attainable Tour de France leaders for this summer time.
“If Egan was match sufficient, why would you not take him to the Tour for his expertise and for the assistance he can provide the staff? The door’s utterly large open and the Tour continues to be 4 months away.”
We’re excited to be again racing @VoltaCatalunya subsequent week 👊This is our lineup for #VoltaCatalunya102 👇 pic.twitter.com/Vnh6uRTPAdMarch 14, 2023
