Egan Bernal not feeling pressure of leadership debut at Tour de France
The Colombian is sharing Ineos leadership with defending champion Geraint Thomas
Egan Bernal says he's not feeling the pressure of leadership at the Tour de France this year, his first as a nominated leader of a team.
The 22-year-old only made his Grand Tour debut at the Tour de France last year, but such is his prodigious talent, he is already leading Team Ineos alongside defending champion Geraint Thomas.
Bernal had been selected as the team's leader for the Giro d'Italia, but broke his collarbone shortly before the race in a training crash. After Chris Froome's horrific crash took him out of the 2019 Tour, Bernal stepped up to be joint leader alongside Thomas.
A lot is expected from the Colombian after overall victories at Paris-Nice and the Tour de Suisse this year, but Bernal says he is enjoying the support of his team-mates rather than feeling any pressure to perform.
"It's harder not to have them," Bernal said when asked about expectations from his team-mates.
"When you have the support of your team it's something nice. I'm sharing leadership with Thomas so if I do a good Tour, then that's nice, but if not, I'm just 22 and it's my second Grand Tour so I just want to enjoy [it].
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I don't want to have pressure and maybe not enjoy the Tour because of the pressure the journalists put on me - that's not me. "
Bernal, who already has five seconds over his team-mate Thomas after gapping him on stage three, sits sixth overall at 40 seconds to race leader Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) after safely navigating the climbs of stage five.
He now faces the first proper mountain stage of this Tour to the steep summit finish of La Planche des Belles Filles on Thursday's stage six, but Bernal says he feels more confident this year than he did on his Tour debut last year when he played a support role.
"I'm a little bit more confident. Last year I crashed and I lost time," Bernal said about the opening week of the Tour.
"I came to the Tour de France last year with another mentality, to help the guys, so it was really different. Now I'm happy to have the support of the team and it's really different when the guys are helping you.
"For sure [stage six] will be a really hard stage — the GC riders what to be in the front, want to win some seconds. It will be first contact with the high mountains so I'm sure it will be a really important day for us."
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
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Overachiever: Cameron Wurf competed in the Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and an Ironman, all in just eight days
Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
The tech nerd's guide to the perfect coffee
Joe on Joe. What does it take to make a fine mug of Joe? We sent Joe Baker to find out.
By Joe Baker 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
-
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
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published