CONFIRMED: Egan Bernal and Tom Pidcock lead INEOS Grenadiers at Tour de Suisse in preparation for Tour de France

Currently at the Criterium du Dauphiné, most of the Tour de France contenders are following the traditional preparation towards the Tour de France. INEOS Grenadiers have Carlos Rodríguez in the race that is being affected by the weather, and at the Tour de Suisse they will back up Egan Bernal and Tom Pidcock.

Egan Bernal has followed a successful sprint where he raced into the podium at O Gran Camiño - where Jonas Vingegaard took the win - and the Volta a Catalunya (here, it was Tadej Pogacar who won). The Colombian has effectively returned to his level of old, but faces the difficult challenge that is of battling against the new generation's best climbers.

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However in Suisse he will not have to do so, as the large portion of Tour contenders steered away from the eight-day race. Much of that due to it's toughness including five consecutive mountain stages that will end the race. However that, and the high altitude climbs, are the terrain where the Colombian performs best and could surprise.

He is joined by Tom Pidcock who will co-lead the British team. Pidcock, despite his unusual build-up schedule for the Tour which includes an MTB World Cup race the weekend before the Grand Depart, will also aim for the GC. In Suisse he will have an important test for these ambitions as the race presents serious mountains which he will have to tackle. Both are strong favourites for the yellow jersey.

The team will also focus on possible sprints with Ethan Hayter on the hilly days - who can also perform in the race's initial time-trial - whilst in the mountains, Bernal and Pidcock will be supported by Oscar Rodríguez and Brandon Rivera as well. Kim Heiduk and Salvatore Puccio complete the lineup, mainly adding firepower to the team's ranks on the flatter days.

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INEOS Grenadiers for Tour de Suisse:

Kim Heiduk
Oscar Rodríguez
Brandon Rivera
Salvatore Puccio
Egan Bernal
Tom Pidcock
Ethan Hayter

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Bora DS admits they underestimated Primoz Roglic's arrival: "We weren't really aware of what it means to have ridden for another team for eight years"

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