'He needs to be aggressive': Egan Bernal must continue to attack in the mountains to win Giro d'Italia, says former manager
The Colombian's former manager Pablo Mazuera says he can take two minutes on a single climb if his back injury holds out
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Providing his back injury doesn’t once again worsen, Egan Bernal can put two minutes into his rivals in one single stage when the Giro d’Italia reaches the high mountains, according to the Colombian’s mentor.
At the first rest day, the Ineos Grenadiers rider sits atop the general classification standings with a 14-second lead to Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Remco Evenepoel.
>>> Five things to look out for in week two of the Giro d'Italia 2021
Following an opening 10 days of mixed terrain in which Bernal moved into the maglia rosa following his win on stage nine, the larger mountains loom, with Saturday’s ascent of the infamous and feared Monte Zoncolan likely to be pivotal in deciding who will be crowned the winner in Milan on May 30.
Pablo Mazuera, who was the first manager to notice and develop Bernal’s cycling talents when the then 11-year-old started riding with the Fundación Mezuena, told Cycling Weekly that if Bernal’s back problems continue to be kept at bay, he will go onto win his second Grand Tour.
“It’s been a titanic struggle so far to earn time on his rivals and we all know that Egan will not have an advantage in the time trial in Milan. So he has to attack to be in a good position before that stage,” Mazuera said.
“He has to take advantage of his main ability which is the long climbs. When he starts his attack, he can win by two minutes. In just one climb. So he must take advantage of this talent he has in every stage he can.
“He knows in Milan he won’t have the luxury of being able to gain time, so he needs to be aggressive. He has got a great last man in the mountains in Dani Martínez and this will help him a lot.
“Egan is very intelligent: he manages tactics well, manages the reactions of other riders well and he is in the best team. He deals with all situations. He will take a lot of strength from what he’s done so far.”
Before the Giro there were concerns about Bernal’s back problems that have plagued him since last August, but his form so far in Italy has reassured him and the watching public that it will not derail him in his quest to add to his 2019 Tour de France triumph.
Mazuera, however, cautioned: “Nobody, even him, still knows how his injury will hold up, but we know in the high mountains he is the best climber in the world. But even the best climber in the world still has to rely on having the best physical condition.
“He’s still waiting to know if his body will permit him to advance and to show his strength after so many days and so many kilometres.”
An ongoing third-wave of Covid-19, alongside large and at times deadly protests, have rocked Colombia in the past month, and a Bernal win would help lift the national mood.
“We saw when Egan when the other day in the messages just what it meant to the people of Colombia,” Mazuera explained. “There were so many messages of gratefulness, happiness, and how his win was improving moods in this really difficult situation that we are currently living in as a country.
“With so many negative things happening, a positive issue of this calibre and size is really impactful for everyone – those who like cycling and those who don’t. We are searching for positive news and this is the news that the people of Colombia really need right now.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Chris first started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2013 on work experience and has since become a regular name in the magazine and on the website. Reporting from races, long interviews with riders from the peloton and riding features drive his love of writing about all things two wheels.
Probably a bit too obsessed with mountains, he was previously found playing and guiding in the Canadian Rockies, and now mostly lives in the Val d’Aran in the Spanish Pyrenees where he’s a ski instructor in the winter and cycling guide in the summer. He almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.
-
-
Gravel races near you: a guide to the 2023 gravel season
Looking to get graveling? We've got you covered with events around the globe
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Pfeiffer Georgi wins Brugge-De Panne solo after aggressive race splits in crosswinds
Brit claims her first WorldTour win by out-foxing some of the fastest riders in the world
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
100 days until the Tour de France: How the contenders are shaping up
How are the leading GC riders looking a century away from the biggest bike race of them all?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Egan Bernal to return to racing in late-March
Rod Ellingworth confirms Colombian to return to action in coming weeks, Tour de France place not guaranteed
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Remco Evenepoel buoyed by UAE Tour success as preparation for Giro d’Italia continues
Reigning World Champion says Giro preparation is on track as he prepares to head to altitude
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'It won’t be difficult to beat my 2022 Classics results'
Ineos Grenadiers' multi-format star ready for central role in one-day racing this Spring
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jai Hindley set for ‘fun and aggressive racing’ at the Tour Down Under
Last year’s Giro d’Italia champion plays down his chances of a potential Tour Down Under Victory as he looks ahead to coming months
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
From the World Championships to Paris-Roubaix: Cycling Weekly's wins of 2022
It is hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten, but we tried, so here is the best win of the year, plus nine more
By Adam Becket • Published