"It’s not about numbers, it’s about Character" - Egan Bernal climbs to Top10 of Tour de Romandie

It was a rough few months for Egan Bernal but the Colombian looks to be back on track with a strong performance at the Tour de Romandie. The INEOS Grenadiers rider finished inside the Top10 on the queen stage and is also en route to finish in the Top10 of a stage-race for the first time since 2021.

"It’s not about numbers, it’s about Character. Top 10 in the stage and the GC which, after all, is a small great victory for me," Bernal said in a post on social media last night. "Tomorrow last stage, we return home and continue training."

Bernal's last Top10 in a stage-race was the 2021 Vuelta a Espana. He was close to doing so at the Vuelta a San Juan earlier in the year after riding to fourth on the queen stage, but a crash on the opening day led to a knee injury that would obstruct his preparation for the spring. He spent another two months out of competition, returning to Europe for the Volta a Catalunya - where he also crashed out - and Itzulia Basque Country.

Expectations weren't very high towards the Tour de Romandie, but with freedom to chase a result and a more modest competition, he could go for a result. His improving form proved out to be much better than his last competition, and the Colombian rode a steady pace up the ascent to Thyon 2000, being dropped when Team DSM pushed the pace, but always remaining close to the front. His pacing strategy proved successful and he ended the day in eighth place, jumping also to eighth in the overall classification.