After a strong World Championships, Netcompany INEOS calls on Oscar Onley to lead at Il Lombardia

There were some pretty wild rumors about Bernal. The 29-year-old Colombian had an up-and-down season and didn’t perform as well as he had in the past. He posted higher wattage numbers than ever before, but he kept falling significantly behind. That’s why, according to certain sources, he was considering retirement, even though his contract was still in effect.

Bernal then responded to the reports. “I still have a contract with the team through the end of 2029, and right now my plan is to simply start next season as usual,” he said on Instagram. “Over the years, I’ve also learned that this sport isn’t just about results, victories, and sacrifices. It’s also about enjoying the journey and continuing to find the motivation to do what you love.”

After the Tour de France, Bernal didn’t race another kilometer. It turned out to be his last race. He had been on the entry list for the Tour of Lombardy for a long time, but he won’t be at the start there after all. And so Netcompany INEOS must now shift its focus to the final Monument of the season.

Arensman and Onley will be the team's key riders. The latter, a British rider, finished sixth in the Vuelta a España and had a strong World Championships, where he placed seventeenth. A week later, he finished third at the Giro dell'Emilia, just two seconds behind winner Davide Piganzoli.

Arensman has flown somewhat under the radar in recent months. The Dutchman came agonisingly close to the podium in the Giro d'Italia, where he finished fourth. The Tour de France was less successful, after which he took a month and a half off. He returned at the GP Québec and finished twelfth at the Tour of Emilia.