Colombian cycling star Egan Bernal endured a difficult Stage 15 at the Tour de France, falling further down the general classification and heading into the final stages, the chances of a successful title defence look all but over.
In stark contrast to last year when he dominated in the high mountain stages, leaving rival riders in his wake with such effortless power and persistence, Bernal hasn’t managed to recapture the same racing form at key stages of the Tour this time around.
Most striking of all, 23-year-old Bernal wasn’t able to keep pace with Stage 15 winner Tadej Pogacar, with the Slovenian first across the finishing line at Grand Colombier. Still top of the general classification, his fellow countryman Primoz Roglic also leads the Tour de France winner odds with betting exchanges, thanks to retaining a tight grip on the yellow jersey since Stage 9.
Roglic was always fancied as having a great chance to win the 2020 Tour, particularly given that his performances at other leading events over the last few years propelled the 30-year-old former ski jumper to prominence. While he is expected to go on to complete a richly deserved Tour triumph this year, Bernal now faces the challenge of simply finishing as high as possible in the general classification.
Bernal must improve over the final stages if he’s to even finish within the top ten of the general classification, which looks increasingly unlikely. “I didn’t have the legs,” he admitted in comments published at BBC Sport. “The other riders have been stronger than me and we have to accept that,” Bernal concluded, offering a completely honest appraisal of his performance during Stage 15, and throughout the whole race.
While some competitors might cut a frustrated figure, unable to hide their frustrations at failing to meet expectations, Bernal appears to be cut from a different cloth. Indeed, it’s his big personality that has earned great praise from Ineos Granadiers teammates, who he surprised by cutting his own hair on the first rest day of the Tour.
There’s no doubt that big personality will be needed for Bernal to make a strong finish to the Tour, which he appears to be enjoying despite struggling to compete amongst the front-runners this year. Nevertheless, this year has been atypical and hardly ideal for preparations, while it could be said that competition within his own team has also been lacking.
Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas failed to make the selection cut for Ineos, ahead of the Tour. This meant that Bernal lacked the benefit of his two biggest race motivators pedalling and pushing alongside. That’s a factor that can’t be ignored at the tour this year, especially within a team that has become renowned for the strongest peloton for the last decade, dominating races with their strategy and movement.
Looking ahead, Bernal will need to grow accustomed to life without Froome and Thomas in years to come. Nevertheless, if his personality and enthusiasm are any indications, the 2019 Tour champion is sure to bounce back, and he’ll be additionally motivated to make amends next year at the 2021 Tour.