Egan Bernal Will Target The 2021 Tour de France

By: Pro Tour Cycling

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Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) has indicated that his back injury troubles won’t stop him from pursuing a second Tour de France title, as he confirmed with Noticias Caracol, that the race would be his principal objective of the 2021 season.

After winning the Tour in 2019 at the age of 22, the Colombian was forced to abandon his title defense this year with back pain and was subsequently diagnosed with the spinal condition scoliosis. 

In the onset of the troubles, Bernal said that the recovery would take several months, but days ago he said that the was trining without pain.

On Tuesday, in Zipaquira, Bernal’s home region, he was crowned sportsman, and shared with Noticias Caracol his 2021 race program.

“I’ll have to train very hard. The truth is I’m preparing for the Tour de France, which is the most important race in the world,” he told Noticias Caracol.

“My first race should come at the Colombian national championships, which I think will still take place in February.”

Bernal has previously indicated his desire to target the Giro d’Italia at some point. While the route for the Tour, which is slightly less favourable to the climbers than in recent years, has been unveiled, the route for the Giro has yet to be unveiled. 

“Little by little the inflammation is going away. I’ve been pedalling without pain for some days now, but the recovery will take a bit of time.”

After the aothorities of Colombia had cancelled Tour Colombia for next year, Bernal has some small stage races in Europe in February, including the Volta a Valencia, Volta ao Algarve, and Ruta del Sol, .

Bernal was included in Colombia’s plans for the Olympic road race before the Tokyo Games were pushed back to 2021. Now there is just a week between the end of the Tour and the Tokyo road race, with added uncertainty surrounding possible quarantine periods for athletes arriving in Japan. 

Source: Noticias Caracol.