Egan Bernal to open his 2025 European season at Vuelta a Andalucía

In 2025, Egan Bernal faces a crucial season with the INEOS Grenadiers. The British team has had a winter of upheaval over the recent off-season, losing notable riders such as Tom Pidcock and Jhonatan Narvaez. As such, the Colombian and teammate Carlos Rodriguez will be the team's two main leaders for the Grand Tours on the calendar.

Bernal knows that he will have to be at a high level, but the former Tour de France and Giro d'Italia winner has been finding his way back to his best form over the last couple of seasons. In the coming year, Bernal now also already knows which race he will race first in 2025 when he arrives in Europe: the Vuelta a Andalucía.

Before that, Egan Bernal will be at the Colombian national championships, which will be contested from February 6 to 9. But it will be the centenary of the Vuelta a Andalucía that will see the 28-year-old rider race for the first time this year on the old continent. The general director of Deporinter, the organizer of the Vuelta a Andalucía, is Joaquín Cuevas. Upon hearing the news of Bernal's presence, he made the following statements: "(Egan) is one of the world stars of the peloton. It is a joy that he has chosen to compete in the Vuelta a Andalucía. He will give great prestige to the race".

The special edition of this Vuelta a Andalucía 2025 will start on February 19, and will extend to the 23rd. As reported by the race organization to EFE, Egan Bernal will be the leader of INEOS Grenadiers in the race, supported by compatriot Brandon Rivera.

Notably, Frenchman Axel Laurance will also be part of the line-up. The 23-year-old is one of INEOS' signings for the new season. In the off-season he left Alpecin-Deceuninck and signed for 2 seasons with the British team.