Egan Bernal to return to racing at the Tour de Suisse as Ineos and Geraint Thomas prepare for the Tour de France 2019
After Froome's crash ruled him out of the Tour, Thomas and Bernal will provide the British team's best chance of delivering a seventh Tour de France victory

Egan Bernal (Ineos) will return to racing at the Tour de Suisse, his first race in more than two months after breaking his collarbone in a training crash.
The young Colombian and his team-mate Geraint Thomas will use the nine-day stage race to prepare for the Tour de France, where Thomas will be looking to defend his title.
Ineos have announced their full squad set to line up in Langnau im Emmental for stage one on June 15. A trio of Brits, Luke Rowe, Ben Swift and Owain Doull, will accompany Thomas and Bernal, as well as Jonathan Castroviejo and Frenchman Kenny Elissonde.
Bernal crashed on a training ride in May, suffering a broken collarbone, which ruled him out of the Giro d'Italia 2019 where the 22-year-old was set to take on team leadership responsibilities for the first time in a Grand Tour.
Speaking before the race in a post on his Instagram, Bernal said: "After 76 days without competing, tomorrow we return to racing at the Tour de Suisse. A lot of training in recent months and finally pre-race 'nerves' come along again. This [race] will surely serve as preparation for the Tour de France."
Bernal impressed at the 2018 Tour de France, his debut Grand Tour, finishing 15th in the overall classification despite serving as Geraint Thomas' key mountain domestique as the Welshman rode to victory.
Thomas will now almost certainly go into the Tour de France as Ineos' undisputed team leader, following the devastating news of Chris Froome's crash that left him in intensive care with multiple fractures and ruled out of the Tour.
Froome was preparing his tilt at a fifth Tour de France victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné when he crashed during a recon of the stage four time trial. Ineos had split their two Tour de France winners and key domestiques across French and Swiss stage racing in the run-up to the Tour, with Froome's absence now undoubtedly a huge blow to the British outfit's aspirations of winning a seventh Tour de France title.
Thomas tweeted in the aftermath of Froome's crash: "Such crap news! It’s always horrible hearing about any bad crash, but even worse when it’s a good mate! Heal up quick! He'll be back."
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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Dr Hutch: WLTM someone to join him on long rides
Doctor Hutch leaves sightseeing for others and dedicates his long rides to the pursuit of solitary suffering. But now he’s looking for ride-mates - A GSOH is a must
By Michael Hutchinson • Published
-
Carolin Schiff makes huge solo effort to take victory at women's Unbound Gravel 200
German off-road pro takes a massive solo victory at gravel's premiere event, Unbound
By Henry Lord • Last updated
-
'Possibly La Vuelta' - what's next for Geraint Thomas?
Another Tour de France bid looks unlikely for the Ineos Grenadiers leader, despite impressive Giro d'Italia
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From drawing to Giro d'Italia in 2 months: How SunGod reinvented Geraint Thomas' iconic sunglasses
The glasses, GTs, have been seen on the Welshman's face throughout his impressive Giro d'Italia run
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'It's nice to be back in pink': Geraint Thomas returns to lead at Giro d'Italia as GC battle finally catches fire
Ineos Grenadiers rider will try and leave it all on the road in the days ahead after he climbs back into pink jersey
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Giro d’Italia 2023: Five things we learned from week two
After a hugely impressive spring campaign, Ben Healy shows no signs of slowing down as the season continues
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘He’s the greatest sprinter of all time’ - Geraint Thomas pays tribute to retiring Mark Cavendish
During Monday’s second rest day at the Giro d’Italia, Cavendish announced he would retire from professional cycling at the end of the current season
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia after fracturing hip on stage 11
Ineos Grenadiers rider was sitting in third before falling heavily with 69km to go on Wednesday
By Adam Becket • Published