No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
Egan Bernal will not ride Paris-Nice next week, as a knee injury he picked up in January continues to force him out of action.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider fell on his knee at the Vuelta a San Juan early in 2023, which stopped him from riding the Volta ao Algarve. It was thought that he would be back for a big showdown with Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard at Paris-Nice next weekend, but that is now not happening.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Rod Ellingworth, Ineos' deputy team principal, said that there are "no concerns" but couldn't put a date on the Colombian returning to action.
"Unfortunately, he had a fall at San Juan, landed on his knee, nothing to do with the accident last year," Ellingworth explained. "But like anything, these things take a bit of time, you can't put a time frame on it, but he's doing well, he's disappointed not to be racing at the moment. One thing with Egan is that you've got to hold him back, cos he's an ambitious guy like all of these lads. We can't ask anything more of Egan up to this point, really.
"No, he won't ride Paris-Nice. We're not sure when he will race next, yet, but he's OK."
Bernal was left almost paralysed in 2022 after colliding with a bus during time trial training on his home roads last January.
It left him requiring seven separate surgeries to treat the 20 broken bones and two collapsed lungs that he suffered in the incident. He said last year that still being alive is like being "born again", that he was given a "second chance", and that the accident had left him with a "95 per cent chance" of becoming paralysed.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
As a result, he did not ride much in 2022, but returned to racing at San Juan this year, before suffering the latest setback.
Bernal is thought top be aiming for the Tour de France this summer; Ineos Grenadiers look light on a definitive leader without the man who won in 2019. However, every missed race makes it all the more doubtful that he can hit top form by July.
Ellingworth admitted that the team were without an "out-and-out" favourite for a Grand Tour this year; in 2022 the team did not win a Grand Tour for the first time since 2014.
"We've got a strong bunch of riders, of course we didn't win a Grand Tour last year, and the competition is strong," he said. "It has made us roll up our sleeves, look up all the different areas we want to improve on. With people like Geraint [Thomas] in the team, who bring a lot of experience, we need to tap into that.
"We also need to balance that with the younger guys who are developing into those roles. It's all about development, moving on, and taking these races head on. The competition's high, we're not going in with an out-and-out favourite, but the lads will certainly be competitive and ready."
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place’ ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
I’m a fat cyclist; these are the top 3 misconceptions people have about bigger riders and why they’re wrong
After my recent 'We're fat cyclists' reel went viral, I realized I had hit a nerve
By Marley Blonsky 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
-
'We were lucky with the weather': Brandon McNulty admits rain helped UAE Emirates edge Paris-Nice stage three team time trial
American pulled on the yellow jersey after a rain soaked finale to stage three in Auxerre
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