Egan Bernal experiences the most difficult stage of the Tour de France: The team was shouting all day in the radio

When the route was announced, we all realized that the ninth stage of the Tour de France 2024, with several sections of sterrato, would be one of the most epic of the race. One of the important men in the peloton, Egan Bernal, made it through without any major difficulties. The Colombian rider of INEOS Grenadiers spoke after the stage to detail what was a tremendous day of action at the Grand Boucle.

Analysis and sensations

"Yes, well, the truth is that it was really crazy, it was a pitched battle inside. I don't know how it looked from the television, but inside I think it was one of the craziest stages I've ever been on."

The most difficult stage of the Tour

"Undoubtedly the hardest. The pressure we all had to be ahead was impressive. The team, during the four or five hours, I don't know how long the stage was, was shouting all day on the radio that we had to be ahead in each sector. The pressure we were under was quite high and the need to be ahead. There were a couple of sectors that I took, I don't know, position 30 and I couldn't see anything at all, so I had to be in front and the sections of sterrato were very lose, there were a lot of rocks. Once you entered the sector, the truth is that there were moments when the bike was completely stopped, it didn't grab anything, so it was quite difficult".

Stage saved

"Yes, well, let's say that in the morning we said that if there was any opportunity to gain time we're going to take it. But the fact that we got through it without crashes was already enough and I think we should be happy with how we rode and how we did the stage."

Balance of the first week

"I think I'm doing well. I'm close to the Top 10, Carlitos (Carlos Rodríguez, ed.) is ahead in the overall, there's a lot of Tour left."