D⬆️UPHINE The Grenadiers are in for a serious climbing test on today’s queen stage 👑 Hear from @Eganbernal and check out the profile for yourself 👇
"Very hard, but at the same time very good for me" - Egan Bernal building form with promising Dauphiné performance
CyclingSaturday, 10 June 2023 at 12:37
Egan Bernal has been climbing up the overall classification at the Criterium du Dauphiné and today he finds a key test. The Colombian is eager to show is level ahead of the Tour de France, and he looks to be fighting for a strong result and GC with the summit finish of today's stage on the menu.
“I think I did well in these first few days. They were very tough. It's been a long time since I've been in a race of this level, but at the same time it's the first race in a long time that I've been in front and I don't have to race in the peloton," Bernal told SpazioCiclismo. "So let's say it was very hard, but at the same time very good for me."
Bernal sits 15th in the GC at the start of stage 7, 3:06 minutes down on Jonas Vingegaard, however his - and most riders' - battle is for the podium, in which he has only 1:43 minutes down on Julian Alaphilippe. The two final stages of the French race will be very difficult and include a lot of climbing where the Colombian can make a difference if he has good legs. On stage 5 he put on a great performance, even attacking in the final kilometers out of the chasing group.
Today however is the first day in the high mountains, which will be quite different then what the riders have faced so far. “I think it will be an unknown factor for everyone. Today's stage is very different from the ones we've had in recent days. There will be slightly harder climbs with a lot of elevation gain. I think I'll race a little more conservatively and we'll see where I can get to."
The summit finish at the Col de la Croix de Fer sits at over 2000 meters of altitude and this too could benefit the Colombia native, on a day that features three long and tough ascents and just over 4000 meters of climbing in total.
Steve Cummings, who's leading the team in the car this week, shares the positivity of the Colombian: "Egan is doing very well. Every day we are exploring the possibilities of him: he seems to be improving day by day. We have to get through the next two stages and evaluate after the Dauphiné what will be best for the team and for Egan. Today and tomorrow they will certainly give us ideas.”
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