“To win in Europe, up against a Roglic or a Remco or a Pogacar or an Almeida or a Vingegaard...”: Egan Bernal tempers expectations after second straight Colombian title win
Cycling
Winning again on home roads was never going to change Egan Bernal’s understanding of where he stands in the modern peloton. His second consecutive Colombian national road race title confirmed form and confidence, but it also prompted a dose of realism about what awaits when the season moves to Europe.
“Winning is winning. But there are no gifts, there is no such thing as a preparation race anymore and everybody is going flat out,” Bernal said in conversation with Deportes RCN.
It is a mindset that reflects both his own recent trajectory and the wider recalibration taking place at INEOS Grenadiers.
Bernal’s Colombian triumph was hard-earned, not ceremonial, and it came with an immediate acknowledgement of the level required to translate domestic success into meaningful European results.
A win that confirms form, not conclusions
“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 a Roglic or a Remco or a Pogacar or an Almeida or a Vingegaard. There are so many really strong riders,” Bernal said. “But I’m still working and believing in myself and I’m trying to get to the best level I can.”
That list of names tells its own story. Rather than framing his national title as a statement, Bernal positioned it as part of a longer process, one that recognises how competitive Grand Tour racing has become since his own breakthrough years. It is a marked contrast to the expectation that once followed him automatically.
The race itself underlined why the victory mattered. “It was a question of waiting and going flat out. I’ve never ridden such a tough race,” he said. “I’d been up the final climb before, but even though it was a tough one, there were a lot of people who went up it full gas, and I was driving like crazy.”
Pressure at home, perspective abroad
Bernal eventually prevailed after more than six hours of racing, holding off Iván Ramiro Sosa in a late sprint. “I thought Ivan was maybe going to beat me, but sprint battles after six hours of racing are very different, and it worked out well,” he explained.
The emotional weight of racing at home was evident too. “I didn’t think I was under pressure, but I couldn’t sleep before the time trial, so maybe that was the case,” Bernal admitted. “With everybody shouting Egan on the climb, I couldn’t do anything else but try my hardest.”
That honesty mirrors the broader tone of his early 2026 campaign. The Colombian title provides momentum and confidence, but Bernal is careful not to confuse it with proof of readiness to challenge the very top tier of European stage racing.
For INEOS, that realism matters. As the team continues to rebuild around a blend of established leaders and emerging talent, Bernal’s measured outlook offers a reminder that progress is incremental. The jersey may be new, but the ambition remains grounded in the reality of the competition ahead.
The win in Colombia shows Bernal is moving in the right direction. What it does not do, by his own admission, is rewrite the hierarchy waiting for him across the Atlantic.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- That sucks for him. I've always wondered what guys like him do after retiring from cycling - go back to uni? He's still a very young manCrashjames03-11-2026
- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
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leedorney02-11-2026
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Egan Bernal es Bicampeón de Ruta de Colombia!! Con una actuación pletórica se llevó el triunfo en su tierra Zipaquirá ante una multitud!! Iván Sosa, también con una soberbia labor, es subcampeón y el joven Juan Felipe Rodríguez logró el bronce!! Maravillosa carrera!!
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