Egan Bernal retirement bombshell? INEOS' last Tour de France winner standing reportedly considering his future at just 29
Cycling
The cycling market has just produced one of the most surprising stories of recent weeks. Daniel Benson, one of professional cycling’s best-connected journalists, raised the possibility on Wednesday, 07.10, that Egan Bernal may be considering retirement.
It is unexpected news for a rider who is still only 29 and who, until recently, appeared set to continue in the peloton.
The information carries even greater weight because of the Colombian’s contract situation. Bernal’s agreement with Netcompany INEOS expires at the end of 2026. Although a renewal was discussed for months, there has still been no official announcement of a new deal. The rider himself confirmed last year that he was contracted until 2026 and still had plenty to offer.
Before the Giro d’Italia, the outlook seemed very different. Everything suggested that Bernal would remain with the British team, particularly after regaining prominence within the squad and once again becoming one of its leading Grand Tour riders.
The Giro ended with the Colombian in 10th place overall. It was not the result Bernal achieved during his best years, but it confirmed that, after the accident that nearly ended his career in 2022, he remains capable of fighting for significant positions in a Grand Tour. Netcompany INEOS’s own website lists that 10th place among his main results of 2026.
However, the version of Bernal that many expected after his return has still not fully emerged.
Egan Bernal, NetCompany INEOS star.
Egan Bernal’s situation
| Aspect | Situation |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Team | Netcompany INEOS |
| Current contract | Until the end of 2026 |
| 2026 Giro d’Italia | 10th |
| 2026 Tour de France | 20th and no stage wins |
| Last Grand Tour victory | Stage win at La Vuelta 2025 |
| Future in 2027 | No contract announced |
The situation also has an economic dimension. Bernal was one of the peloton’s highest-paid riders for years after winning the 2019 Tour de France and the 2021 Giro d’Italia. At one point, he signed a highly lucrative contract with the British organisation, which chose to maintain its commitment to him even after his serious accident.
Luke Rowe specifically cited Bernal’s salary as one of the factors affecting the team’s budget, recalling that the Colombian had signed a multimillion-pound contract before the crash.
Now, with that agreement approaching its end, the situation is completely different. Retirement is not a fact, nor does it mean Bernal has decided to leave cycling. But the fact that a source of Daniel Benson’s standing has raised the possibility makes the Colombian’s future one of the market’s biggest questions.
Read also
After surviving one of the most serious accidents ever suffered by a Tour champion, Bernal returned, won another Grand Tour stage and continues to compete at the highest level. But with 2027 approaching, nobody can take his continued presence for granted. That would certainly be one of the biggest surprises of the next transfer market.
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.
claps 7visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Thanks for your explanations but you got one detail wrong, it’s not 1300 but 13000, which means at 46.8km/h (to make it easy) a frame every mm. Even if it was only 1300, it would be extremely unlikely (but theoretically possible with bike throwing) that between 3 consecutive frames (nothing to do with the composite image shown) one rider might straddle back or forward by a few mm in the hidden moments in between frames but at 13000 that’s impossible as it would mean actually travelling backwards between 2 frames as you cannot otherwise recede 2mm during the time to travel forward 1 mm.Mistermaumau07-10-2026
- Clownboy come up from his parents basement retreat !frieders307-10-2026
- I think what he meant was, look where it got him, so if you’re suggesting Pogi should follow that advice in the same way, I have to question your Agenda coz we’re not far from recent ambiguous suggestions regarding 2 Californian cities.Mistermaumau07-10-2026
- He shone pre-Pogacar, now he's 1 of many Ineos' also-rans, for their budget, they aren't showing many results, you can only wonder if Brailsford can turn this around
leedorney07-10-2026 - We are not far from someone colonising it so probably one day yes. Some are colonising orbits, some have an eye on the moon, deep seas, even mars so who’s going to stop anyone, certainly not the guy grabbing Greenland by the pushies.Mistermaumau07-10-2026
- Hopefully not before he gets his 100... 7 more to go
Rafionain-Glas07-10-2026 - Good for her and to stop the Dutch dominance a little.Mistermaumau07-10-2026
- Really happy for him. Didn’t notice Remco had not entered but am sure that was a nice surprise and relief for Slovenia who otherwise would have no medals to show at all from WC & EC, unlike Spain who did their « powerhouse » description justice.Mistermaumau07-10-2026
- So great to see. The "old" guy still has some life left in the legs! Bravo Primoz!mobk07-10-2026
- couldn't agree more. this might be the perfect moment to retire ... but then, he is obviously good for another couple of years in the peloton!Ketterechts07-10-2026
Loading
1 Comments