The Colombian Egan Bernal, winner of the Tour de France 2019, will be at the start of the 110th edition which starts on Saturday from Bilbao, announced his Ineos-Grenadiers team on Monday.
Bernal, who is trying to regain his best level after his very serious accident at the start of 2022 when he hit a stationary bus head-on, is one of the eight riders selected for the Grande Boucle (July 1-23).
Jonathan Castroviejo, Omar Fraile, Michal Kwiatkowski, Daniel Martinez, Tom Pidcock, winner last year at the top of Alpe d’Huez, Carlos Rodriguez and Ben Turner will be the other riders of the Ineos team, while Geraint Thomas, third last year, will do as expected, after his second place in the Giro at the end of May.
“It’s a mix of talent and experience,” said Rod Ellingworth, one of the British team managers who has not appointed an undisputed leader, as is often the case for Ineos.
He praised “the character and resilience” of Egan Bernal, as well as “the extraordinary efforts he has made to return to the fore”. “Obviously as a former winner he will bring his racing experience and winning attitude to the group,” he added.
Bernal, who finished the recent Critérium du Dauphiné in an encouraging 12th place, insisted how much he will enjoy “every kilometer of the course” this year after coming close to death in January 2022.
“I’m sure a lot of people have followed what’s happened to me since my accident and everything I’ve had to go through to meet the biggest challenge of my life. Being part of the team for the Tour reassures me (on the fact) that I am on the way back to my best level”, he said.
Ineos’ selection for the Tour de France:
Egan Bernal (COL), Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP), Omar Fraile (ESP), Michal Kwiatkowski (POL), Daniel Martinez (COL), Tom Pidcock (GBR), Carlos Rodriguez (ESP), Ben Turner (GBR)
