Egan Bernal shrugs away retirement rumours but confirms premature season end - "This sport is not just about results, victories, or sacrifices"
Cycling
One of the most astonishing careers in professional cycling nowadays is that of Egan Bernal. The Colombian rider has recently been rumoured to potentially retire as he did not travel back to Europe for Il Lombardia, but the Netcompany INEOS rider has dismissed that - whilst confirming he has decided to end his season following the Tour de France.
"I wanted to share some thoughts with you regarding the phase of life and career I am currently in," Bernal wrote in an announcement. "First of all, I am under contract with the team until the end of 2029, and for the time being, I intend to start the upcoming season".
Il Lombardia was in Bernal's schedule, with the Italian races in the past having seen him perform highly, but that has since been changed. Bernal has finished his season, last racing at the Tour de France. His announcement came as one of gratitude and achievement after a decade in the sport.
"After so many years dedicated to cycling, I feel I have given the best years of my life to this sport—both as a cyclist and as a person. I have made sacrifices I never imagined, won races that once seemed like impossible dreams, and experienced both incredible highs and very difficult lows; yet today, I can look back with peace of mind, proud of everything I have done and achieved, and with no regrets".
The Colombian has had an astonishing career, having been discovered by Gianni Savio back in 2015 and having signed with Androni Giocattoli as an 18-year old. In 2016, this was barely unheard of in the professional ranks - whilst it remains very unusual to this day.
After two years in the Androni he signed a contract with INEOS in 2018, backed the team to Tour de France victory with Geraint Thomas; and the following year went on to win it himself - one of the youngest-ever winners of the Grand Boucle. In 2021 he also won the Giro d'Italia, and in early 2022 suffered life-threatening injuries in a training accident at home in Colombia.
The 2022 and 2023 seasons were spent on a comeback that at first looked near impossible, but in the meantime Bernal has recovered his competitive form - and in 2025, won a stage at the Vuelta a España, somewhat completing his comeback to totality.
Egan Bernal wore the green jersey after stage 1 of the Tour de France
Busy 2026 led to overall exhaustion
In 2026, Bernal won the Colombian national title in February and then placed his focus on the Giro d'Italia. He rode to second at the Tour of the Alps, fifth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège; and then 10th at the Giro where he was a domestique for Thymen Arensman.
Both riders would then go on to race the Tour de France, publicly touted as stage hunters at first, but both pushed into aiming for the overall classification over the opening week. Bernal was in the mix for a Top10 until stage 15 in which exhaustion took over and he could no longer perform at a high level.
"Over time, I have also learned that this sport is not just about results, victories, or sacrifices. It is also about enjoying the journey and finding the motivation to keep doing what you love.
This year, I decided to end my season after the Tour de France," he confirmed.
"I felt I needed some time for myself—to rest, disconnect a little, and regain that sense of calm that can sometimes be lost amidst the relentless pace of competition.
I have spoken with the team and the people around me, and we are all on the same page: I want to give myself the time and space needed to face what lies ahead with the same conviction and dedication I have always had".
Egan Bernal thinks about his career on the long-term
As mentioned, Bernal still has three more full seasons with the British team. The long-term contract might mean he continues to race with similar ambitions for three more years and in order to do so at his best, required time to disconnect from the sport slightly and recovery psychologically into 2027.
"I do not know exactly what the coming years hold, nor do I feel I need to know everything right now.
What I am certain of is that, as long as I continue to compete, I want to do so with the conviction that I still have a lot to offer".
"It is not simply about continuing for the sake of it, but about having the motivation, the physical and mental strength, and the drive to remain competitive and make a difference," he explained. "For now, I want to enjoy the present, experience this moment calmly, and let time take its course".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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