“There are some very strong riders here who’ll keep fighting until the end” – Egan Bernal says Vingegaard’s Vuelta win isn’t written just yet

As the 2025 Vuelta a Espana hits its first rest day, Jonas Vingegaard may have looked every inch the man to beat after a commanding win atop Valdezcaray. But Egan Bernal, riding quietly and consistently into form, believes the Dane’s path to Madrid is far from guaranteed.

“There are some very strong riders here who’ll keep fighting until the end,” Bernal tells Marca when asked whether Vingegaard could only lose La Vuelta through bad luck. It was a deliberately measured answer — respectful, non-committal, but underpinned by quiet defiance.

Bernal, who sits 11th overall, is 2 minutes 55 seconds down on red jersey holder Torstein Traeen. He trails Vingegaard by 2:18, and the podium by 1:40 — hardly insurmountable margins in a race with its hardest stages still to come. And crucially, the 28-year-old Colombian appears to be building momentum.

After years of setbacks following his near-fatal crash in early 2022, Bernal’s performance so far at this Vuelta has been his most convincing Grand Tour display in years. It’s not been explosive — but it’s been solid, measured, and quietly ambitious. “There are moments when I find myself up front again, like yesterday,” he said, reflecting on Stage 9. “And I get emotional. But this race is so hard. We go full gas all day, and the doubts creep in — how long can I keep this up? The truth is, I don’t have all the answers. We’ll find out during the race.”

Still, it’s clear that just being there — near the front of a Grand Tour GC again — means something significant to Bernal. He described the feeling as “strange,” after so long watching from the back. “I ask myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ But I’m glad. I’m back up front after a lot of effort.”

Bernal’s palmarès already includes the 2019 Tour de France and 2021 Giro d’Italia, but the Vuelta remains the final missing piece in the Grand Tour set. Asked whether winning in Spain remains a goal, his response was refreshingly honest. “I think I still need to take another step forward if I want to fight for a Grand Tour again,” he admitted. “But seeing myself in the mix again is encouraging. Winning all three would be a dream. I’d love to win this race — but I’m already proud of what I’ve achieved.”

For Bernal, 2025 has already been a breakthrough of sorts. His ride at the Giro marked his first true GC contention since his crash. And now, at the Vuelta, he’s hoping to turn that momentum into something more tangible. “After the Giro, I felt a real shift,” he said. “Being in the mix again, pushing my body through three weeks — that gave me something extra. Let’s see if I can show that here.”

Asked what it really takes to win a Grand Tour in this era — an era increasingly dominated by all-round phenoms like Vingegaard, Pogacar and Evenepoel — Bernal didn’t hesitate. “All the stars have to align. It’s not just about being strong — or lucky. You need to be perfect for three weeks. Conserve energy, stay patient, race smart. That’s why these races are the hardest to win.”

The message is clear: Bernal knows exactly what’s required. He’s done it before — twice. Whether his body can still deliver at that level remains to be seen, but the mind, clearly, is still sharp and focused.

When asked about Tadej Pogacar’s recent comments on post-Tour burnout and hints of possible retirement after the LA Olympics, Bernal took a diplomatic, slightly sceptical tone. “Honestly, I’m not even sure what exactly he said. Sometimes things get taken out of context — that’s the media’s job, right? They shape the story. People say he’s thinking about retiring, but the Olympics are still three years away. That’s a long time.”

And what about Bernal’s own future? Is there a finish line in sight? “No. I’ll keep riding as long as I enjoy it. I think these things go in cycles. It depends on how you’re feeling — and when you’re making those comments.”

There is no bravado in Bernal’s words, but there is belief. As measured as he is in public, he’s still driven by the same fire that once made him the youngest Tour de France winner in over a century. “I don’t know if I’ll ever win a big one again,” he said frankly. “But every day I wake up thinking I can be the best again. That hope gives me a lot of motivation. That’s what I work for.”

The Vuelta’s toughest terrain is still to come — and so far, Egan Bernal is still there. Not dominating, not headlining, but surviving, rebuilding — and maybe, just maybe, preparing to surprise a few people.

Because for all the talk of Vingegaard’s dominance, Bernal offered a quiet reminder: “There are some very strong riders here who’ll keep fighting until the end.”

And make no mistake — he’s one of them.