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The Colombian, who has suffered a back injury since last season, was injured by a fall last Friday in the third stage of the race. This he said about his physical situation.
After winning the Tour de France in 2019, Egan Bernal was expected to revalidate his title in 2020. However, a back injury forced the Colombian to put his aspirations aside.
That physical annoyance, which seemed overcome, after the excellent results that Bernal had at the start of the season in 2021, never really went away.
Pasture: Ineos ruled on the fall of Egan Bernal in the Tirreno Adriatico
This was revealed by the Colombian rider in recent days, a situation that was confirmed this Saturday when Bernal himself acknowledged that his physical discomfort has not allowed him to show his best level.
“I am still feeling a little pain in places. We have to wait to see how my back reacts at the Giro d’Italia. It still hurts and there are times in the race I feel that pain, ”the Ineos runner told Spanish television after the race.
However, Egan Bernal gave a part of reassurance and said that after doing several tests the pain in the legs was stronger than in the back.
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Of course, the native of Zipaquira made it clear that this year will be complicated, just like the one he experienced last season.
“I’m going to have to live with the pain. You have to keep your feet on the ground and know that it is a very complicated injury. On the one hand, I want to be optimistic, but, on the other hand, I want to be realistic ”, the Colombian concluded.
Although the Tirreno Adriatico has not developed for Colombians as expected, Sergio Higuita has been the most positive note from the beetles.
After a great stage last Friday, this Saturday Higuita returned to be the protagonist and got on the podium of the day, after finishing third behind Simos Yates, who was second, and Tadej Pogacar, who took the victory.
In context: Stage and leadership for Tadej Pogacar in the Adriatic Tirreno
For now, Higuita is the best Colombian in the general classification, in which he is third, 35 seconds behind the lead, in which the Slovenian Pogacar is. Nairo Quintana is also in the fight and is fifth to 41. Bernal is 11, to one minute and 26 seconds.
The general is completed by Colombians Daniel Muñoz, who is at 20 minutes and 35 seconds, Fernando Gaviria, who is at 37 minutes and 26 seconds and has not been able to win any stage, and Álvaro Hodeg who is at 45 minutes and 54 seconds.
