Egan Bernal says it's obvious Tour de France will be his sole focus for 2020
The reigning Tour champion is putting all other races aside
Egan Bernal has one big goal for 2020 – the Tour de France.
Bernal, who turned 23 last week, will be riding under the weight of expectation this season after a remarkable year which saw him win three of the five stages races he entered.
The Team Ineos rider emerged as the unexpected winner of the 2019 Tour de France after three weeks of tumultuous racing, with Bernal only securing the yellow jersey two days from Paris.
He also claimed victory in Paris-Nice and the Tour de Suisse, in only his second year at WorldTour level.
Colombian Bernal said: “This year I prefer to just be focused again on the Tour de France. Maybe next year or in the future I could go for the Giro, but this year with Olympics we won’t have too much time between the Giro and the Tour de France and I want to arrive really fresh in the Tour.
“The mountains are really punchy, so we need to arrive fresh. This year I just want to have one big goal and it will obviously be the Tour.”
In 2019, Bernal had initially been slated to race the Giro d’Italia but was forced to skip the Italian Grand Tour after suffering a broken collarbone in a training crash on the eve of the race.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Instead he lined up at the Tour alongside 2018 winner Geraint Thomas, the pair emerging as the strongest in the race.
Bernal won the yellow jersey, aged just 22, while Thomas followed up with second place.
Thomas will also be targeting the Tour de France again this year, saying he wants to give it “one more good go.”
Looking ahead to the 2020 Tour, which kicks off in Nice on July 27, Bernal said: “It will be something special to have the number one in the Tour de France and to try to go for the GC again. I’m really motivated and I want to come back and try to do well because I’m the last winner and I respect the race a lot. I know that the team has a lot of confidence in me and I feel ready for that.”
The Tour poses a dilemma for many riders this year, as the Olympic road race in Tokyo takes place a week after stage 21, where the course will suit the climbers and GC favourites.
>>> How tough is a crit race with the WorldTour pros? Strava stats reveal the answer
Bernal said: “I think this year the Olympics will be an important race for everyone. Everyone wants to go there because you go with your national team and I want to do well for Colombia. But as a I said before, my biggest goal will be the Tour de France. I don’t want to be thinking about two races, just focus 100 per cent on the Tour.
“For sure if I finish in a good condition at the Tour, I will be there in the Olympics. Mentally for me it’s better just to be focused on the Tour and then go to the Olympics and see what happens.”
Thank you for reading 20 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 Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former 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, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex 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 the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
What pressure are you running? Three different pressure monitoring systems, put to the test
Real-time pressure sensors allow you to test your own tire pressures to go faster, be more comfortable, and get fewer flats
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
'Why are other bikes so expensive?' - Van Rysel says it's not 'cheating the customer' as WorldTour bike undercuts competition
Van Rysel's flagship bike, as used by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, is just the start of Decathlon's super bike journey
By Adam Becket Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 start list: Geraint Thomas to lead 'aggressive' Ineos Grenadiers
All the teams and riders for the 107th Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Egan Bernal's best result since crash opens door to Tour de France selection: 'We need him competitive for us in the biggest races'
The Colombian revealed that some of his power numbers are better than before his crash in January 2022
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published