After his heavy fall in training, Egan Bernal, who avoided the worst, is slowly recovering in intensive care this Tuesday at the university clinic in Sabana, Colombia where he was on an internship.
The 2019 Tour de France winner underwent successful surgery after a serious accident in which he suffered several fractures and chest trauma.
The neurosurgery" on the 25-year-old cyclist was "successfully completed" and "we expect his gradual progress over the next 72 hours in the intensive care unit," the clinic said in a statement. . According to the medical center, the spine surgery was performed "maintaining neurological integrity and preserving the functionality of the affected segments. We immediately started the rehabilitation process in order to obtain the best possible results for our patient. »
The Colombian, reigning champion of the Giro had planned to resume competition in France on the occasion of the Tour de La Provence from February 10 to 13.
He was then to follow a consistent program, with in particular the UAE Tour from February 20 to 26, for a taste of next summer and the match announced on the Tour de France with the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), winner of the Grande Boucle in 2020 and 2021.
“Chest trauma”
Bernal crashed into the back of a stationary bus on Monday in the town of Gachancipá, nearly thirty kilometers north of Bogotá, while he was training.
In photographs released by local media, the runner can be seen lying on the ground, facing the back of a bus and surrounded by his teammates.
Doctors diagnosed him with "chest trauma" and fractures to his femur and patella. A few days ago, in a video posted on his social networks, he complained about the recklessness of a motorist who had failed to knock down his teammates and himself during an outing.
Shortly before celebrating his 25th birthday on January 13, the first Colombian to win the Tour de France had formalized the extension until the end of 2026 of his long-term contract with the Ineos team.
"These will be my best years and I want to spend that time with this team," he said.
Bernal had confirmed at the same time the priority given in 2022 to the number one event in cycling: “I really want to return to the Tour.
I skipped last year because of the Giro, I feel like it's been a long time since I've been on the Tour.
I am very enthusiastic ".
Since his success in France in 2019, acquired in the last three days of racing, the Colombian climber has followed a curve of great amplitude for his results, between highs and lows.
He failed in the Tour in 2020 (not starting on the 17th stage due to severe back pain) but won the Giro last May, before contracting Covid-19 and completing an average course for a rider. of his level in the Vuelta (6th).