Portals specialized in cycling, as well as Vanguard Sports Tribuneconfirmed that Egan Bernal canceled his participation in the National Road Championship that takes place in Bucaramanga from February 2 to 5.
The rumors began after the Zipaquirá cyclist did not compete in the Championship time trial that takes place this Thursday.
Everything indicates that his absence is due to the fact that he has not managed to fully recover from his blow to the knee. Therefore, the Colombian’s medical and technical staff prioritized his recovery in view of the other challenges of the 2023 season.
The INEOS runner was one of the first star runners to arrive in Bucaramanga. Even on the morning of Wednesday, February 1, he attended to the press and his fans before going out to train on the tracks of the capital of Santander.
Right in Bucaramanga, Egan’s coach, Xavi Artetxe, assured ADN Cycling that if the Colombian’s participation in the national championship is not confirmed, the greatest frustration is for the cyclist.
“Everyone has to understand that whatever happens, he is a runner that if he is here it is because of his desire to be able to run the Nationals in front of his people, and if he does not do it, the greatest frustration will be his. . We want to be optimistic but the truth is that the situation is complicated”, said Artetxe.
Let’s remember that Bernal started his season in 2023 in Argentina, where he had to leave in the sixth stage of the Vuelta a San Juan due to discomfort in his left knee.