On January 24, 2022, the life of Egan Bernal (26 years old) changed. Winner of the Tour de France in 2019 and the Giro d’Italia in 2021, suffered a serious accident in his country, Colombia, while training. It collided abruptly and directly, at more than 40 km/h, against a stopped bus. More than 20 broken bones, endless operations and the feeling that the outcome could have been much worse. “I almost killed myself, but you know what? I am grateful to God for giving me this test”, said the one from Ineos at that time. He began a long recovery and almost eight months later, in August, he returned to competition. In this 2023 he is back in the most important race in the world, in which he attends to AS.
How are you?
The fact of being here is already to be happy. With a lot of desire to continue and we will see what happens in the second half of the race.
Do your legs perform as expected?
I really didn’t know what to expect from this Tour. I didn’t come with anything in mind. I was open to everything that could happen and I focus on rescuing the positive. I’m recovering well, I’m not suffering, I can help my teammates, be ahead in some stages and lift my foot in others, which for me is something different but I’m still enjoying it.
After your accident, what does it mean to return to the Tour?
It is very important, because for other riders coming to the Tour is something normal, but for me it is the most special Tour. It gives me confidence for the future. I want to continue being a cyclist, I want to return to my best level and this race will help me take that extra step.
Did you ever imagine this comeback?
A lot went through my head during this process. Every day, I just started rehabilitation, the main task was to recover the Egan Bernal person, not the athlete. Being able to walk, have a normal life… was my main objective. I didn’t think about being on the Tour.
Has cycling changed today compared to the 2019 Tour, the one you won?
Something has changed, but right now I look at it from a different perspective. I’m not at the level of Vingegaard, Pogacar… any attack or change of pace feels three times stronger now. I try to compare myself with the group that is behind them, with people with whom I competed at a good level and know how far I could go at 100%.
What do you think of your partner Carlos RodrÃguez?
He is a great runner and will be one of the important ones in three-week races for the future. He is very focused and doing very well. He is very young, but no matter what happens we can say that he did a great Tour de France and that after this he will take another step in his sporting career.
Will it be in La Vuelta?
I would like to, really, but we are still halfway through the Tour. I would also tell you that I want to be in Lombardy, for example, but there is still a long way to go. When we finish here we will look at it.