INEOS Grenadiers reveal their lineup for the Volta a Catalunya as Bernal's unexplained absence continues
Cycling
The INEOS Grenadiers have announced their lineup for the Volta a Catalunya 2026, presenting a balanced squad of climbers and all-rounders, but without fully clarifying the situation surrounding Egan Bernal,which will not be present in Spain next week.
The British team is expected to rely on shared leadership, with Carlos Rodríguez as the main general classification contender, supported by Laurens De Plus, who should play an important role in the mountain stages. Oscar Onley could also be an interesting option for the overall standings after showing strong form in recent one week races.
The lineup is completed by Bob Jungels, Dorian Godon, Victor Langellotti and Per Strand Hagenes Svestad-Bardseng, riders who provide versatility across different terrains, from hilly stages to potential breakaway opportunities.
Why doesn't Egan Bernal race?
Egan Bernal has only raced the Colombian National Championships this season, debuting his national champion’s jersey in his only European appearance so far, at the Faun-Ardèche Classic (1.Pro).
After winning the national championships, Bernal said that for now, everything is going according to plan, showing that his winter preparation had gone smoothly and without any setbacks.
"For the moment, everything is going well. I keep working with my feet on the ground, because to win in Europe, you’ll be up against Roglic, Remco, Pogacar, Almeida or Vingegaard. There are so many really strong riders."
His comments suggested that the Colombian rider is in a good place physically and that his off-season work had been completed without problems, allowing him to start the season with confidence while remaining aware of the extremely high level of competition in the European peloton.
However, the races continue to appear on the calendar, and there is still no sign whatsoever of the Colombian rider. INEOS remains in complete silence.
The selected squad suggests that INEOS aim to fight for the general classification, although without clear dominance, in what is expected to be a highly competitive edition of the Volta a Catalunya.
INEOS Grenadiers for Volta a Catalunya 2026
| Laurens De Plus |
| Dorian Godon |
| Bob Jungels |
| Victor Langellotti |
| Oscar Onley |
| Carlos Rodriguez |
| Per Strand Hagenes Svestad-Bardseng |
Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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