Egan Bernal

Egan Bernal
Stefaan Beel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Egan Bernal
Fullname	Egan Arley Bernal Gómez
Birth date	1997-01-13
Birth place	Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Height	1.75 m
Weight	62 kg
Currentteam	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Ridertype	Climber, GC contender
Proyears1	2016–2017
Proteam1	Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec
Proyears2	2018–2022
Proteam2	Team Sky / Team Ineos

Egan Bernal is a Colombian former professional road racing cyclist who won Grand Tours and WorldTour stage races, noted for his climbing and general classification performances. Born in Zipaquirá, he rose through Colombian amateur teams and European development squads before joining Team Sky (later Ineos Grenadiers), where he earned victories in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. His career combines achievements at Tour de l'Avenir, national championships, and podiums at monuments and week-long stage races.

Early life and amateur career

Born in Zipaquirá, Bernal developed on local circuits around Cundinamarca Department and trained on the altitudes near the Andes Mountains, joining Colombian clubs and competing in events such as the Vuelta de la Juventud de Colombia and regional races. He rode for Colombia Pacto por el Deporte and was noticed after performances in the South American Games and the Pan American Road Championships, which led to invitations to European criteriums and stage races like the Vuelta a Colombia Sub-23 and Tour de l'Avenir, where scouts from Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec and Etixx–Quick-Step took interest. His amateur trajectory included participation in youth programs affiliated with Federación Colombiana de Ciclismo and training alongside riders from Movistar Team and Caja Rural–Seguros RGA development squads.

Professional career

Bernal turned professional with Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec in 2016 before transferring to Team Sky for the 2018 season, joining teammates such as Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, and Richie Porte. With Team Sky and later Ineos Grenadiers, he raced in WorldTour calendars including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, and week-long events like the Paris–Nice, Tirreno–Adriatico, and Critérium du Dauphiné. His program often intersected with classics riders from Deceuninck–Quick-Step, stage racers from Movistar Team, and domestiques from Lotto–Soudal and AG2R La Mondiale. Management figures such as Dave Brailsford and sporting directors including Jonas Vingegaard's contemporaries influenced race selections and tactics.

Grand Tour victories and major results

Bernal's palmarès includes overall victories at the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, plus young rider classifications and stage wins in WorldTour races like the Paris–Nice and Tour de Romandie. He won the Tour de France general classification and the white jersey against rivals from Team Jumbo–Visma, Movistar Team, and Bora–Hansgrohe, and secured the Giro d'Italia where he competed with contenders from Bahrain–Merida and Mitchelton–Scott. Other major results feature podiums at the Volta ao Algarve, top ten finishes at the Vuelta a España stages, and national championship medals at the Colombian National Road Championships.

Riding style and strengths

A natural climber from the Andes Mountains, Bernal excelled on steep gradients and high-altitude finishes such as those found on stages to Alpe d'Huez and summit finishes used in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia. His light physique and anaerobic capacity allowed attacks on cols like the Col du Galibier and the Monte Zoncolan, while time trial performances in races such as the UCI Road World Championships and individual time trials in the Critérium du Dauphiné informed his GC credentials. He combined climbing prowess with tactical awareness against rivals from Team Sky alumni and challengers from INEOS Grenadiers' rival squads including Team Jumbo–Visma and Bora–Hansgrohe.

Injuries and recovery

Bernal's career included setbacks from crashes and injuries sustained in road accidents and training incidents, leading to medical treatment at hospitals affiliated with teams and sporting federations. He underwent surgeries and rehabilitation under medical staff connected to Ineos Grenadiers and worked with physiotherapists experienced with athletes from UCI WorldTeam rosters, following protocols aligned with specialists who have treated riders from Team Sunweb and EF Education–EasyPost. Recovery periods involved staged return-to-race plans used by riders returning from fractures, head injuries, and complex trauma.

Personal life and philanthropy

Off the bike, Bernal engaged in initiatives in Colombia, supporting youth cycling programs and community projects in regions such as Cundinamarca Department and Bogotá, collaborating with organizations that include national sporting bodies and sponsors like Sky UK and corporate partners linked to Ineos. His public profile intersected with media outlets such as ESPN, BBC Sport, and L'Equipe, and he maintained relationships with fellow riders from Colombia including colleagues who rose through the same development pathways.

Category:Colombian cyclists Category:Tour de France winners Category:Giro d'Italia winners Category:1997 births Category:Living people