LIEGE (Belgium) – Pidcock’s words after the race perfectly sum up what we all thought when we saw Bernal sprint up the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons: “It’s great to see him racing like this again. He had to suffer more than I can imagine.».
The Colombian is coming back. He admitted to having even higher values than he had before the accident., but cycling has moved on in the meantime, and his pursuit isn't over. Let's just say he's now in the wake of the team cars, and the leading group, to which he belongs in terms of both his track record and his aptitude, is now within sight. Bernal is 27 years old, he has won a Tour, a Giro and every kind of stage race. The 2022 accident It could have cost him his life, but instead he is taking his life back, one step at a time.
We met him on the eve of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the smile as radiant as ever and maybe moreThe anticipation was starting to build and it was clear, having seen him looking so lively already in the trials on the Redoute, that he would have a good race. The final result does not do justice to his race. The twenty-first place was the result of the help given to Pidcock, who arrived tenth, after victory at the Amstel Gold Race. In the end, however, he was happy anyway. He admitted that he wanted to follow Pogacar, but he couldn't. But at least this time he saw it from very close up..
Egan, are you happy?
Yes, very happy.
Was there a day this year when you felt the real Egan was coming back?
Maybe on the Gran Camino, the first few days. I felt I still had the strength to enjoy the ride.At that moment I thought that maybe this year I could take a step further.
What do you think is missing?
Uh, I don't know… I'm just thinking about continuing what I've been doing up to now. I finished last season thinking that I would never be able to get back to the level to be at the frontThis year, however, I'm further ahead than last year, so I think I'm on a good path. I'm confident and I hope to do my best this year, thinking that next year I will be at my best level again.
How do you explain that you have better numbers than in 2021 and yet you are forced to play catch-up?
Beyond my return to full efficiency, it means that the others are continuing to improve, everything is going very fastSo I have to stay focused on myself and work to reach the best Egan and then set my sights on the strongest in the group.
Did you think recovery would take less time, or is it going quickly? What's your impression?
It depends, there are the days that seem to go fast and other days that seem to go slowWe always want more, but the fall I had… Just being able to live a normal life is already a miracle. Being here and thinking I can still be a winner is even more so. I really want to be the best again, but I can't forget that I've already won the most important race.
Do you miss the climbs or the time trials more?
A bit everywhere (smiles, ed.). With cycling these days, I even miss downhill. Now we go full speed ahead at any time, so you have to be very careful at all times.
Are you staying here until the Tour or are you going back to Colombia?
No, I'm going back to Colombia. After Liège, I'll do the Romandie and then I'll go back homeI'm preparing for the Tour, first passing through the Dauphiné. No Giro this year, although I'll be back soon.
