Ineos Grenadiers announced on Monday that Egan Bernal's contract with Ineos is up to 2026 and he will play for The Ineos for the next five years.
Bernal is a driver from Colombia and is the defending champion of the Tour de Italy. Since moving from Androni Giocattoli to Ineos in 2018, he has been with the team for four seasons. He won the Tour de France in 2019 and in his career has a major record of champions in races such as the Paris-Nice race and the Tour de Switzerland.
Prior to this, bernard, who was about to turn 25, had two more years left on his contract with the team, which was supposed to end at the end of 2023, but now they have agreed on this "new five-year contract" to extend the service period to the end of 2026.
Bernal said: "This contract is very important for me, I love being here and it's great to be part of this team. I am genuinely proud to be here, both as a team member and as a staff member, and this contract will cover my golden years, a time when I am honoured to spend time with this team.
"As a grenadier, I'm really proud. When you stand on the field, you will feel the solid backing behind you. From the very beginning of my entry into the team, I found that everyone here is working towards the same goal. You can feel that everyone loves the sport, they are very engaged, they are fully committed to it. "
Bernal had confirmed at the end of November last year that he would play in the Tour de France in the 2022 season, and during the Tour de France in 2020, he experienced a very serious back injury that forced him to leave the arena late in the game, and now the man is back again, with a sword pointing straight at the Tour de France.
He said: "I really want to go back to The Rim, and giving up the Tour de France last year because of the ring made me feel as if I had been away from the Tour de France for too long. Therefore, I am passionate about this year's competition and will be most prepared to enjoy this Tour de France with a good team. "
At the end of last year, the Colombian and Italian media speculated that Bernard was dissatisfied with the Ineos team and even wanted a transfer, but now it seems that the rumors have been dispelled. He has already promised the team the next 5 years and the new contract will last until his 29th birthday, making him the first driver in the team to contract more than 5 years. In addition, new drivers Luke Plapp, Magnus Sheffield, Ben Tulett and sprinter Elia Viviani, who has returned from Cofidis, Solutions Credits, have also confirmed their new contracts, which will play for the team until 2024.
Team deputy superintendent Rod Ellingworth appreciated Bernal's fighting spirit, and even though he was under double pressure from Simon Yates and Damiano Caruso in his final week, he wore the pink shirt to the end. Last September, he made his first tour of the West, finishing sixth and his teammate Adam Yates fourth.
Erinworth said: "Over the last four years, we have seen Egan grow in the team. He proved time and time again that he was an incredible genius. He also proved that even under great pressure, he can withstand the pressure and continue to move forward steadily. Couldn't ask for more from him, as part of the Ineos team we will face a huge challenge this season and Egan and the whole team will go all out to fight. ”
While the full schedule for 2022 has yet to be confirmed, he has confirmed that the Tour de France will be his main goal this season. As early as last November, he said that his back injury had healed, which is exciting news for the upcoming new season. He said at the time: "I think I have fully recovered, but we have been monitoring my recovery through physical therapy sessions and intensive training in the gym, and I would prefer to play my next season in a state of full recovery without any interference, and continue to ride like this." ”
Edit: Johnny
Image source: Infographic Gallery