Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal (24) conquered this Sunday (30.05.2021) the Giro d’Italia, in his first participation in the pink race, two years after making history by being the first cyclist in his country to win the Tour de France. Bernal confirmed his dominance at the end of the last time trial in Milan, in which he fulfilled the record, defended himself perfectly and celebrated with his arms raised.
His teammate at Ineos, the Italian Filippo Ganna, despite a puncture halfway through, won the individual time trial, which ended in the Duomo square, where the curtain fell on the Giro 2021. It was another happy day for the Briton. team, which won the Giro a year after the surprising victory of Tao Geoghegan Hart, winner in 2020 and absent from this edition.
In the general classification, Bernal beat the Italian Damiano Caruso (1:29), for the first time in his career (33 years old) on a Grand Tour podium, and the Briton Simon Yates (4:15), second and third respectively. . The Colombian was also the best youngster in the race, winning the team title and claiming two stage victories.
explode with happiness
Bernal was intractable the first two weeks of racing, with victories on stages 9 (Campo Felice) and 16 (Cortina d’Ampezzo), but his performances were less in the last week. However, there he had the help of his teammates, in particular his compatriot Daniel Martínez, to overcome the final stages and arrive in Milan dressed in pink.
Bernal acknowledged enjoying a time trial like never before. “I was focused on my effort and I knew I couldn’t make a mistake. I didn’t want to lose the race in a corner, so I wasn’t risking too much. I think it’s the first against the -shows that I appreciated”, he summed up. He also said he felt inspired by the support of his compatriots on the streets of Milan.
“I saw a lot of Colombian flags. I saw them everywhere. It was also special with my coach in the car. I think it was very nice, an incredible feeling. I’m overflowing with happiness,” he said. -he declares. farm.
DZC (EFE, AFP)
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
An athlete before
Born on January 13, 1997, Egan Bernal got his start in cycling under the guidance of his father, himself a road cyclist. At the age of 5, little Egan already demonstrates a significant mastery of the sport of two wheels, even if he is waiting for his 14th birthday to make his debut in mountain biking within various professional and amateur teams. He achieved his first successes there.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
knows the titles
After reaping successes in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador as a mountain biker, he turned to road cycling, in which he also had triumphs, especially in European competitions. In his country, he also tasted glory. Representing the Sky team, he won the first edition of the Colombia Oro y Paz race in 2018 after beating 137 rivals.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
A hopeful start
Also wearing the colors of Sky, he made his debut on the Tour de France in 2018, in the midst of a controversy due to his youth and his lack of experience in the grand tours. After overcoming a few problems, Bernal was able to respond to the confidence and proved his worth in the mountain stage. In the general classification, he finished in 15th place, not bad for an athlete from whom we did not expect much.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
Enjoy the mountain
The 2019 Tour de France experience would be different, this time with Team Ineos. Although he didn’t feature in the early stages, Bernal started to climb slowly in the standings and attacked in the mountains. Raised in Zipaquirá, 2,700 meters above sea level, and residing in Andorra, he knows these problems and has an innate tolerance to the lack of oxygen at height.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
The current and future promise of the bicycle
For many, Bernal is the young promise of cycling and his name is expected to be repeated for many years to come when the winners of the most important competitions are discussed. The Colombian is the first Tour de France Ineos (formerly Sky) winner since 2012 not to come from the UK. As if that weren’t enough, he is the youngest winner since 1909 and the third youngest in history.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
a matter of state
Colombia are celebrating their recent sporting successes (Cabal and Farah at Wimbledon and now Bernal). Even President Iván Duque took care to congratulate the cyclist via Twitter. On July 27, he wrote: “With what happened today at @LeTour, @Eganbernal is about to be crowned champion of the most important race in the world. It fills all Colombians with emotion and joy.”
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
Powerful team and competitive country
The highest part of the podium was occupied by Bernal, who was accompanied by his teammate, Geraint Thomas (on the right in the photo), and the Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk. Bernal isn’t the only Colombian to shine in the competition. Nairo Quintana also has an exceptional participation, as well as Rigoberto Urán, leaving the name of a country with a very high cycling tradition.
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Egan Bernal, the Colombian who breaks cycling records
“A Federer who needs a Nadal”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Bernal’s emergence was expected because “geniuses achieve feats before others”. Additionally, he drew a comparison to tennis, pointing out that Egan “is a Federer who needs a Nadal to create an era-defining rivalry.” The first Colombian in yellow in Paris is “an extraordinary culmination of a magnificent Tour”, he added.
Author: Diego Zuniga
