“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

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.

“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.”

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.