Egan Bernal rocks Carì ascent to help INEOS onto Giro podium with Arensman; and into the Top10 for himself

Egan Bernal showed his best version again on the brutal stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia 2026. The Netcompany INEOS rider delivered a solid seventh place on the final climb to Carì, a result that moved him up two spots to tenth overall, on a day marked by Jonas Vingegaard’s fourth stage win of this edition.

Beyond the result, Bernal left a very strong impression on a day of maximum intensity, especially with his work alongside Dutch talent Thymen Arensman, with whom he led part of the chase on the final ascent. The Colombian explained that the strategy was clear from the start given the unmatchable pace set by Vingegaard, the race’s maglia rosa.

“I think it was easy to know what we had to do. It’s very hard to follow Jonas, so we just had to keep our own pace,” Bernal said after the finish, making it clear the aim was to manage the effort and limit losses against the dominant rider in the race.

The Colombian is racing at his top level and after a complicated start to the Giro, his form seems to be improving as the race goes on - whilst other riders, such as Giulio Pellizzari, have cracked out of GC contention.

The 2019 Tour de France winner also underlined his excellent relationship with Arensman, one of INEOS’ key assets for the future. The pair already shared leadership and responsibility weeks ago at the Tour of the Alps, and that connection seems to be strengthening day by day at the Giro.

“We’ve raced together a lot. As I said before, he’s a very young talent. No doubt he has many good years ahead,” Bernal said of his teammate, whom he considers one of the most promising riders in the WorldTour peloton.

The Colombian went even further, making clear the pride he feels in sharing a team and races with him: “For me it’s an honor to share some races with him.”

After Jonas Vingegaard's attack in Carì, Bernal went to the front of the Arensman group and paced the climb in the group that was directly behind the Dane. His efforts got Arensman to climb onto the podium as Afonso Eulálio had been dropped; and he himself climbed from 12th to 10th on the day, overtaking the previously mentioned Pellizzari but also Mathyus Rondel. With Ben O'Connor and Afonso Eulálio consistently shedding time, the Colombian can realistically aim higher.

“We’ve always had confidence. That’s what we try to show day by day. Feet on the ground, but obviously with great ambition,” he explained.

But the ambition is clear: Get INEOS back on the podium of a Grand Tour “I think Thymen deserves to be on the podium.” It will not be easy with Felix Gall and Jai Hindley, at peak form, rivalling the Dutchman. But it is possible.

Stages 19 and 20 will be two brutal days in the mountains where the classification will be further decided; with the Dolomites stage perhaps suiting Bernal to perfection with altitude being a key element to the Passo Giau and Passo Falzarego.