Tour de France: Egan Bernal looking to minimise time losses before launching assault on yellow in third week
The Colombian says it's never good to lose time to GC rivals, but that he will aim to challenge Primož Roglič on the long climbs of the third week of the Tour

Egan Bernal will look to minimise time losses to Primož Roglič and other GC rivals until the third week of the Tour de France, where he will launch his assault on the yellow jersey to defend his title.
"It was a really fast climb, really short and pointy in the final. It was also a good climb to see how the GC riders are, I'm really happy to arrive with them because it was really hard," said Bernal after finishing seventh on stage four at the same time as stage winner Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma). The Slovenian took 10 bonus seconds after crossing the line first and moved up to third in GC.
"It's not good when another GC rider takes some seconds but I think we need to be really patient," Bernal added.
>>> Primož Roglič surprised Egan Bernal isolated on summit finish but won’t underestimate Ineos
The Colombian lacked the fast finish of Roglič, so couldn't immediately follow the wheels of the Slovenian champion as well as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) who set off in pursuit.
His Ineos team-mate Richard Carapaz lost 28 seconds, the Ecuadorian a surprise late addition to the British team's roster after it was decided the off-form Geraint Thomas would ride the Giro d'Italia instead of the defending champion.
For Bernal, he says he will try and limit his losses as best as possible over the opening two weeks, currently 10 seconds behind Roglič, and then will strike in the third on the long climbs that will suit him better than the shorter ascents.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"We know that our best scenario is to ride to the third week without losing too much time and then take a bit of time in the long climbs," Bernal explained. "For us, we will try and minimise the time losses in these stages and arrive as fresh as we can in the last week."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published