Egan Bernal was selected by Colombia to ride the Olympic Games in Paris in August but he cannot take up the place on the team because his participation was not sanctioned by his Ineos Grenadiers team, the Colombian cycling federation has said.
Now Bernal, who goes into the Tour de France in a co-leadership arrangement, has been replaced on the national team for the Games with Santiago Buitrago.
It was not immediately clear why Ineos Grenadiers did not approve Bernal's participation in the Olympics, which the 27-year-old has never ridden before. However, in a statement confirming Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) will take by the road race place, the Colombian Cycling Federation is clear Bernal was selected but his not received the team sanction required.
"Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), who had been selected to compete in the Paris Olympic Games and who will take part in the Tour de France this Saturday, ultimately did not receive authorisation from his team to participate in the Olympic Games, so the technical committee of the federation determined that the quota be for Santiago Buitrago," the Colombian Cycling Federation said.
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"Buitrago, 24 years old, has just won the fourth stage in Paris-Nice; to finish runner-up in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana and to be fifth in the Flecha Wallona. Likewise, he highlights the two stages that he won in the Giro d'Italia, in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and in the Vuelta a Burgos 2022.
"Santiago, who will be competing in the Tour de France for the first time this season, will join the Colombian 'Colombian' Road Team once his participation in the race ends and will represent the country in the long-distance race of the route alongside to Daniel Felipe Martínez (RedBull Bora Hansgrohe)."
Bernal, who has somewhat rediscovered his form this year, is still trying to reach his former level after a crash while training in Colombia in January 2022 almost cost him his life. So far this year he has taken a series of top 10 placings in stage races, including 4th at the recent Tour de Suisse and 3rd in both Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT) in March and O Gran Camiño (2.1) in February.
He is expected to take on a co-leadership role, with Carlos Rodríguez, for Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France. Bernal won the race overall in 2019, and came back from injury to claim the 2021 Giro, before hitting the back of a bus at high speed in Colombia just before the 2022 season.
“It’s a big honour to be in the biggest race in the world and as with every year, we’ll fight for the best result possible," Bernal said in advance of the Tour starting in Florence on Saturday. “My ambition is to be really competitive and to be someone who can make a real difference in the race.”
