Egan Bernal "angry" as Pogacar effortlessly breaks away again: "When you compete against him, many times he makes it seem like you’re bad"
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Follow us on GoogleEgan Bernal spoke candidly in an interview with WIN Sports about Tadej Pogacar's dominance in today's cycling world. The 28-year-old Colombian from INEOS Grenadiers made a real comeback to the world's elite after three seasons of setbacks and rehabilitation, but also saw that the gap with the Slovenian from UAE Emirates-XRG is frustratingly large.
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The usually reliable Domestique wrote down some interesting statements by Bernal, taken from the Colombian TV broadcast. Of course, his new step in the right direction was discussed. Bernal crashed hard into a stationary bus during training in January 2022 and needed years to regain his old level and improve in a sport that is constantly evolving.
In 2024, there were already positive signs, but in 2025, Bernal was outstanding. After winning national titles in the time trial and road race in Colombia, he competed with the best in the Giro d'Italia for a long time. He finished seventh. In the Vuelta a España, he finished outside the top ten, but he did win a stage. It was his first victory since his terrible crash almost four years ago.
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In a shortened Vuelta stage, Bernal won ahead of Mikel Landa
Bernal felt "different" in 2025
“This year, I felt like I started to be myself again,” Bernal said of a successful year with two grueling Grand Tours. “I felt stronger. This year, I went to the Giro, finished seventh, and I went to the Vuelta aiming for the podium. It didn’t happen, but I still believe that one day I can win again,” he said ambitiously about the only Grand Tour missing from his list of achievements.
Bernal won the Tour de France in 2019 and the Giro in 2021. He will undoubtedly continue to compete in the Vuelta in the coming years, especially now that he has truly overcome all his physical misfortunes. “I was dealing with back pain, I had a herniated disc. Even so, in 2021, I went to the Giro d’Italia with that pain and won it, and I didn’t know whether I’d need surgery or not.”
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Bernal not always happy with Pogacar
Surgery in 2024 ultimately worked out well, although Bernal knows that after 2025 he will have a lot of ground to make up if he wants to threaten Pogacar. In the Italian fall, he faced the world champion, and it was no fun. “He’s on another level. When you compete against him, many times he makes it seem like you’re bad.”
“It makes me angry: you’re giving it your all, and this guy takes off like nothing happened,” continued Bernal, who also added some nuance. What you think in your head is not always what you should think. “But it’s cool to compete against him, he pushes the rest of us to want to improve. It’s cool that we get to see the Pogacar era.”
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026