Egan Bernal takes Strava KoMs on daunting Andorran mountains 10 days after breaking collarbone
The Colombian star was forced to pull out of the Giro d’Italia but is already back on the bike


Egan Bernal has topped the Strava leaderboard on some tough Andorran mountains just days after breaking his collarbone.
The Team Ineos rider was forced to abandon his Giro d’Italia leadership after he crashed during a training ride on the eve of the Italian Grand Tour.
Bernal has made a rapid recovery and is back out on the bike in the Andorran mountains, where he took three King of the Mountains and a slew of top 10s.
The 22-year-old Colombian rode just 68.64km in his first time back out on the bike after the crash, spending two hours and 45 minutes in the saddle.
>>> Watch: Rémi Cavagna’s sketchy descending while riding to Tour of California solo victory
He racked up 1,896m of climbing in the short ride, which took him up the Coll de la Gallina, which featured in stage 20 of the 2018 Vuelta a España.
The climb is 8.15km-long, with an average gradient of eight percent.
Bernal crested the second category climb in 29-44, riding at 16.5km/h for the duration and holding 324 watts.
The ride was strong enough to put Bernal at the top of the Strava leaderboard, almost a minute faster than his Team Ineos team-mate David de la Cruz who climbed it in 30-37.
Bernal also took the KoM on the first category Col de la Garina CS-111 segment – a first category climb which averages nine per cent that was included in stage 19 of last year’s Vuelta.
>>>Former Team Sky rider Jon Dibben joins Madison-Genesis
With a time of 28-23, Bernal bested the previous KoM holder Eduardo Sepulveda (Movistar) who completed the climb in 29-12.
Bernal’s final KoM of the day was a longer version of the same climb, the Cs 111 Climb, which is 9.62km at eight per cent.
The HC climb KoM was previously held by Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma), but his 34-40 time was beaten by Bernal’s 33.47.
Bernal climbed at 17.1km/h and held 322w for the duration of the ascent.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
The general classification just got even tighter: Five talking points from stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
There was climbing, climbing, and more climbing on Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wider S-Works Torch replaces popular Specialized shoes - and our tech writers had very different first impressions
Wider, lighter, more comfortable and better looking - here's the story behind the development of the S-Works Torch plus our first ride impressions
By Simon Smythe • Published
-
Winner Dylan van Baarle shares impressive Strava data from fastest-ever Paris-Roubaix
The Dutchman covered the 257.2km route in 5-37-00, winning with a powerful solo attack 19km from the finish line
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Have you heard the one about why Australian track riders dye their hair blonde? Ineos Grenadiers's Luke Plapp reveals all as he seeks world track and road glory
The Ineos Grenadiers youngster is expected to be one of the peloton's strongest time triallists in the ensuing seasons
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Strava's latest update adds 3D maps to its mobile apps
The update is free and offers users a 3D terrain view of their surroundings
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas to make season debuts at Volta ao Algarve
David Gaudu, Remco Evenepoel and Tobias Foss will also race in Portugal from tomorrow
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Victor Campenaerts breaks Tadej Pogačar's Coll de Rates Strava record
The Belgian climbed the Spanish mountain 13 seconds quicker than Pogačar on Saturday February 12
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Who is Kim Heiduk, Ineos Grenadiers' young German signed to bolster their sprint and Classics options?
The 21-year-old spent three years at the U23 team Lotto-Kern Haus
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Surprise: Egan Bernal posts video of himself walking unaided following crash
Colombian has returned home for rehab after spending two weeks in hospital after his collision
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'It’s like being born again': Egan Bernal on being alive after crash
Ineos Grenadiers rider says his life changed in a second, as he is released from hospital after crash
By Adam Becket • Published