Ineos Grenadiers eye Tour of Germany for Egan Bernal's return to racing from serious injury - report

ByHarry Latham Coyle

Updated 10/08/2022 at 15:09 GMT

Egan Bernal has been sidelined since suffering major injuries in a crash in training in January. The Colombian had been rumoured to have an outside chance of appearing in Ineos Grenadiers' team for the Vuelta a Espana, but is yet to return to competitive racing. A report suggests the team may be eyeing the Tour of Germany at the end of the month for Bernal's return.

Egan Bernal's return to competitive racing could come at the Tour of Germany, according to a report.

The 2019 Tour de France winner has been absent since suffering serious injuries in a training crash in January, but has been moving closer to a comeback.

And though rumours of a surprise, ahead-of-schedule appearance as part of the Ineos Greandiers team for the Vuelta a Espana appear unfounded, the two-time Grand Tour winner may yet be racing before the end of August.

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La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Bernal could race in Germany from August 24-28, though Ineos suggest their rider's return date is as yet uncertain.

The 25-year-old suffered 20 different fractures after hitting the back of a stopped bus in his native Colombia while on a practice time trial training ride.

Bernal revealed after leaving hospital that doctors initially warned that there was a 95 per cent chance that he would be paralysed after the incident.

The Colombian was back on a stationary bike in early March, however, and has been working towards a return before the end of the 2022 season.

He recently joined his team-mates at an altitude camp in Andorra and may yet figure in the hilly Italian classics in October.

In Bernal's absence, Geraint Thomas led Ineos at the Tour, finishing third behind Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.

The Vuelta will likely be fellow South American Richard Carapaz's major stage race farewell to the team, with the 2022 Giro d'Italia runner-up likely to leave Ineos in the close season.

The Ecuadorian is widely expected to join EF Education-EasyPost, with confirmation expected soon.

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Richie Porte, who will retire, Dylan van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma), Eddie Dunbar (BikeExchange-Jayco) and Andrey Amador, who will follow Carapaz to EF, are also departing.

Ineos have already confirmed the signing of Leo Hayter this summer, while promising Dutch general classification contender Thymen Arensman is also set to join from Team DSM.

Filippo Ganna, Ethan Hayter and Tom Pidcock have renewed their contracts with the team, but there is uncertainty over the future of Adam Yates, with the British rider reported to be in negotiations with Ineos over a new and improved contract.

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