Colombian doctor Gustavo Uriza, who has taken care of Egan Bernal since his accident, confirmed during a videoconference of the Colombian National Academy of Medicine that the cyclist was already cured of the fracture of the odontoid ( second cervical vertebra) and could resume competition from the last days of May.
A news that he described as a “scoop”, before affirming that he would leave the final decision to Ineos, the team of the Colombian runner.
Egan Bernal, 25, had already announced that he would travel to Monaco to train with his team.
It will start rolling on the roads bordering the Mediterranean from this weekend to continue the work started in Colombia a few weeks ago.
"I'm going to cycle in Europe as soon as I get off the plane, it's the first thing I'm going to do," said the Colombian rider.
In fact, I will be traveling with my father, who will accompany me on the motorbike in case I have any problems.
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95% chance of becoming a paraplegic
On January 24, the winner of the Tour de France 2019 hit the back of a bus stopped on a road in Colombia.
Victim of multiple fractures, he had undergone five operations on the spine, right leg and right hand.
He then said he had a "95% chance of becoming a paraplegic" after "almost losing his life".
Four months later, he does not rule out resuming competition fairly quickly.
"It's all up to Dr. Uriza to see what he says," he added.
It does not depend on me.
If it were up to me, I'd already be running, I'd put on a bib and go racing.
I'm sure I won't finish the races yet, but just putting on a bib would be very exciting and it will be my motivation when I get to Europe.
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Already forfeited for the Tour
Apparently, his doctor is therefore pushing in the same direction since he announced during this videoconference that the runner was cured of his cervical fracture and that, 92 days after his accident, the Colombian could already think of a recovery.
His fractures of eleven ribs, two vertebrae, a femur and a patella have all healed.
“This means that from the 120th day of the accident (May 24), Egan can do tandem, stand on pedals and compete in good shape, underlined Gustavo Uriza.
His coaches in Europe have to give the green light, but from my side he is fit.
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According to the doctor, Bernal could therefore appear in a few short distance races in June before the Tour de France (July 1 - 24) in which he has already announced that he will not take part.
At the beginning of April, he also ruled out participation in the Vuelta (August 19 - September 11): “The Tour of Spain might be a bit too much.
Clearly, I won't be ready to run it, it would be asking a lot of my body.
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