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Egan Bernal has left the 2020 Tour de France after wasting time and suffering a back injury.
The 2019 Tour de France winner lost all hope of the overall victory after distancing himself at the Grand Colombier on stage 15. After losing more time on Tuesday, he admitted that his back problem had also created a knee problem.
The Ineos Grenadiers medical staff opted to take him out of the race before Wednesday’s key stage to the top of Col de la Loze in the Alps.
“Obviously, this is not how I wanted my Tour de France to end, but I agree that it is the right decision for me under the circumstances,” Bernal said.
“I have the utmost respect for this race and am already looking forward to coming back in the next few years.”
Bernal will now look for new goals in the final part of the rescheduled season.
“We have made this decision with Egan’s best interests in mind,” said team manager Dave Brailsford.
“Egan is a true champion who loves to race, but he is also a young rider with a lot of laps ahead of him, and at this point we generally think it is wiser for him to stop racing.”
More to follow.
