'No chance!' - Ineos' Egan Bernal told to go away by rivals in bizarre breakaway at Giro d'Italia
:focal(178x132:180x130)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/04/03/3673848-74785904-310-310.jpg)
Updated 15/05/2021 at 17:00 GMT
There was a bizarre moment on Stage 8 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia as Ineos Grenadiers star Egan Bernal was told to forget about it by rival riders as he temporarily attempted a very unexpected - and ill-fated - breakaway from the peloton. In a long stretch of road and with crosswinds swirling, the former Tour de France champion made a move to the front before swiftly being forced to retreat back.
'It's chaos!' - Bernal told to go away in comical breakaway
Ineos star Egan Bernal was told to go away by rival riders in a comical breakaway from the former Tour de France champion during Stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia.
The 24-year-old Colombian made a surprise move on a flat stretch of road with the peloton being pulled all over the place by crosswinds and with splits suddenly appearing.
Whether Bernal's sudden move to the front was entirely intentional or not, it was not particularly clear, but it did not appear to go down well with a number of his rivals in the group.
As riders waved, shouted and gesticulated in Bernal's direction, he eventually retreated back behind the lead group with his tail between his legs in comical fashion.
Eurosport commentators Rob Hatch and cycling legend Sean Kelly were left very surprised to see Ineos - and in particular Bernal - making the seemingly random move.
"There is action because we have seen a couple of riders from Deceuninck–Quick-Step and a couple of riders from the Ineos Grenadiers - but who is it? That is the question..." said Hatch.
"How dangerous are they? On the left-hand side, it's not who we think it is, is it? Bernal?!
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/05/15/3132964-64215008-2560-1440.jpg)
Team Trek-Segafredo rider Italy's Vincenzo Nibali and Team Ineos rider Colombia's Egan Bernal at the Giro d'Italia 2021
Image credit: Getty Images
He is being told by the riders there that he should not be there, because they are saying he has no, no chance of getting away!
"That was a very interesting move, because he obviously found himself there. I didn't see him surrounded by any team-mates or anything like that. Bernal found himself there.
"It's all over the road, here. No wonder they were chasing hard with Bernal in front. I was also wondering if Mr [Remco] Evenepoel was there as well because I saw several Deceuninck–Quick-Step jerseys.
"It's chaos on the first few kilometres of this Giro d'Italia [stage] but the type of chaos that we really enjoy. It is splitting in the wind and that is perhaps why Bernal found himself up there."
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/05/15/3133049-64216708-2560-1440.jpg)
'Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!' - Gaviria crashes into wall after silly attack
Kelly added: "Well, that is the death of that breakaway! They were trying to get a very slight advantage but it is coming back here.
"When they start a conversation like that with Bernal, immediately the pace is knocked off a bit. That was not one that was going to stay.
"It's all coming back together now and Bernal is not going to be the one to go, he is going to be the death of that breakaway."
Stage 8 kicks off a bumper weekend with plenty of climbs. While Attila Valter (Groupama–FDJ) came in holding the maglia rosa, Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Evenepoel (Deceuninck–Quickstep) will be looking to strike.
- - -
You can watch the Giro d'Italia live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and Eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now. You can also watch the most comprehensive live & ad-free racing on GCN+. Go deeper and get interactive with live polls & quizzes, plus rider profiles, race updates, results & more – plus stream exclusive cycling documentaries. Watch it all with GCN+ on any device.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article