The injury at the Clásica Jaén was a significant blow,
especially considering the fact that Bernal recently became a winner again, not
once, but twice! Earlier in February, he clinched his first Colombian National time
trial title, marking his return to form after a prolonged period of recovery
from his infamous scrash in 2022. This was his first in 1354 days, and guess
what? He then won the road race just a few days later!
The Col d'Èze is often featured in races like Paris-Nice,
served as the backdrop for Bernal's return to training. His decision to tackle
this ascent so soon after his injury suggests that his wounds are not as bad as
we initially feared, and it won’t be long before we see the
INEOS Grenadiers rider going in search of
his first World Tour victory since 2021.
Looking ahead, Bernal's schedule includes several key races,
assuming his schedule won’t be too severely altered. According to reports, his
spring calendar features Strade Bianche, and Tirreno-Adriatico, whilst it is
rumoured that his main objective in 2025 will be to complete his set of grand
tour wins by taking the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana in the late summer.