Bernal gave Arensman his Martínez moment on stage 20 of the Giro: ‘I thought exactly of that’
CyclingSaturday, 30 May 2026 at 21:07
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Follow us on GoogleThymen Arensman called Egan Bernal his “MVP” after the final mountain stage of the Giro d’Italia. The Colombian, a former winner of both the Giro and the Tour, took to the Netcompany INEOS social account to express his pride about the day's ride. Arensman was equally glowing about Bernal, who managed to finish in the top ten overall on the way to securing the Dutchman's 4th place.
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“Bernal doing this for me was very special,” Arensman said. “In the last few days Egan was also much more emotional than I was: he really wanted me to do well.”
“That makes me feel very proud and humble, when a champion like that sacrifices himself for me, wants to share his experience like that and has my best interests at heart,” said the Dutchman.
Bernal explained the team's tactics for the stage on X. “It was a good climb, one we knew would be decisive. We decided to manage our effort well, with me helping Thymen as much as possible. I think that worked very well.”
Read on below the video!
Bernal thought back to Martínez
The Colombian experienced a similar situation in the Giro he won in 2021, when his teammate Daniel Felipe Martínez encouraged him at a moment when he was struggling in the pink jersey.
“I was thinking exactly of that moment, when I was dropping and he was supporting me. Thymen had a difficult moment, but I knew what I had to do.”
“We had to ride the steep section a little more steadily and then accelerate on the flatter part. That is what we did,” said Bernal, who also looked back on his own race at the end. “It was a good race. You always want more, but Thymen is very close to the podium and that is what it is. Now we have to keep improving and be ready for the next race.”
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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