Colombian began Tour still suffering with a back injuryBrailsford takes decision with Egan’s ‘best interests at heart’Egan Bernal has withdrawn from the Tour de
France five days short of
Paris after injury wrecked his title defence. The 23-year-old Colombian had remained in contention until Sunday’s stage on the Grand Colombier, when he shipped more than seven minutes on the unforgiving gradients to tumble out of the top 10 in the general classification.
After Monday’s rest day, Bernal suffered again on Tuesday’s stage to Villard-de-Lans, although he indicated he hoped to ride to Paris out of respect for the race. But on the morning of Wednesday’s
Queen stage to the Col de la Loze above Méribel, his team announced Bernal was out of the race.