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
-
-
Time ATAC XC 2 pedal review - clean, easy, and pain-free pedalling on gravel trails and the way to work
The design of the mountain biker's knee-friendly favourite hasn't changed in 20 years - there'll be a good reason for that
-
Dylan Groenewegen starts 2023 under pressure to win at 'home race' Saudi Tour
Dutchman and his Jayco AlUla team seek to impress new title sponsors on the roads of AlUla
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
‘It’s a good thing and shows progression of the sport’ - Ben Swift hails changes at British Cycling academy
Ineos Grenadier says putting academy riders in with development teams will encourage development of many skills
-
'I know I can do it so I need to make that next level': Ben Turner signs Ineos Grenadiers contract extension
The Classics and another Grand Tour are on the agenda for Doncaster's Big Ben
-
Geraint Thomas targets Giro d'Italia after disappointment over Tour de France route
Welshman says he doesn't know whether he will be riding for GC in May or not yet
