Egan Bernal will go to the Giro d’Italia without any preparation races.
The Ineos leader was initially scheduled for next week’s Tour of the Alps, but he chooses to prepare in Colombia. Bernal has not raced since Tirreno-Adriatico.
His back injury, which he suffered in the Tour de France last year, flared up again and he returned home to Colombia. The 24-year-old climber is expected to return to Europe only a week before the Giro d’Italia, after detailed preparation at altitude.
Bernal is the intended leader of Ineos Grenadiers at the Giro, which starts in Turin on Saturday, May 8.
He is also scheduled for the Tour de France as a helper for leader Geraint Thomas. The 2019 Tour winner is not the only classification rider who heads to Turin without a preparation race. Mikel Landa and Remco Evenepoel will also go straight to the Giro.
