Egan Bernal admits he was very close to signing for Movistar Team prior to joining Team Sky
CyclingMonday, 16 October 2023 at 22:00
The talented Colombian cyclist, Egan Bernal, who was crowned Tour de France champion in 2019, shared interesting details about his decision to join Team Sky, now known as the INEOS Grenadiers, in 2018, instead of ending up signing for Spain's Movistar Team. This choice may have led him to be teammates with compatriot Nairo Quintana at the time.
In a candid revelation, Bernal admitted that Movistar had been a serious option for him, especially because of the language, since the team was Spanish and Nairo Quintana, an emblematic figure of Colombian cycling, was part of its ranks. However, despite his initial doubts, Bernal opted for the powerful British team Sky, now Ineos, at the time considered the strongest in the international peloton.
"At a certain point, I almost chose to go to Movistar because of the language and because it was Spanish, I thought I could feel at home. Nairo was on that team at the time. In contrast, Sky looked very inhuman and I wanted to be there, but at the same time I was scared," Bernal confessed in an interview conducted on the podcast 'Táchalo'.
Bernal emphasized that he finally opted for Sky (Ineos) because it was his "dream team" and expressed his desire to compete alongside another great cyclist, Chris Froome. Despite initial doubts about the appearance and dynamics of the British team, Bernal assured that it was the best decision he could have made in his career.
The Colombian, considered one of the most outstanding cyclists of his generation, ended his 2023 season, which included his participation in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, where he competed in his first three-week races since the accident he suffered at the beginning of 2022. His presence in competitions continues to be a source of admiration and expectation for his fans and cycling lovers around the world.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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