Egan Bernal has one Grand Tour left to win - At the Vuelta a Burgos, he hopes to build on La Vuelta victory

Egan Bernal won the Tour de France in 2019 and then the Giro d'Italia in 2021. His life-threatening accident at the start of the 2022 season looked to be the end of the INEOS Grenadiers' dream of completing the set of Grand Tours but that is not the case. And in 2025 he is aiming for the Vuelta a España, despite the tough competition he will have on cours.

"I think the preparation has been great. After the Giro, I rested for ten days here in Europe, then I came back to Colombia and again started to build the base and the usual preparation for a Grand Tour," Bernal told AS ahead of the Vuelta a Burgos where he is getting back some racing rhythm. "Firstly, many kilometres, and then, bit by bit, I started to get into a bit more of an intense rhythm. I think everything went well and I'm keen to return to racing."

He is racing for the first time since the Giro so it is not easy to access where his form will stand, with just over two weeks until the Grande Salida. "A bit of everything, depending on how I feel. Firstly, the aim is to get the rhythm for the Vuelta, race again, and see where we are. It's been two and a half months of just training. Obviously, I'd like to be in front to try and win the race, I think that's important".

"After a long time without competing, you don't know if you're going to be there or not. You arrive with a lot of enthusiasm, but at the same time, a lot of doubts. I think the main thing is to start with a good mindset and then accept whatever comes." The summit finish to Lagunas de Neila at the end of the week will be the most important test for the Colombian who is set to face the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Juan Ayuso and João Almeida at the Vuelta a España.

The victory may be a tough task but it is ultimately his biggest goal, taking into consideration his circumstances. "It's my dream. I believe I can dream about it. I've said it many times, I don't know if I'll achieve it or not, but the truth is I wake up every day thinking about being the best again, about being at the front. It's what I train for, that's why I keep cycling. If not, I think I would have retired by now.

"Of course, lots of people talk to me about the Vuelta, and that's how I see it as well. It's the only race I'm missing, but people motivate me and tell me to try it". He is likely to be the team leader at the Spanish Grand Tour, unless something odd happens. "I think it's one of my motivations. I don't know if I'll ever achieve it, but at least as long as I keep cycling, I think it's going to be my dream."

He also confirmed his intentions to race the World Championships in Rwanda, which could suit him due to the altitude; and finish his season at the Italian Autumn classics. "The idea is to go to Worlds. I want to go to Worlds, and normally I would also do the Italian Classics. But firstly, I want to finish Burgos, then the Vuelta and then Worlds. At the moment I can't make too many plans about the future, but I want to get to Worlds and then I'll think about going to Lombardia, where I'd like to do well," he concluded.