Netcompany Ineos say 'nothing has changed' in Egan Bernal's GC hunt at Giro d'Italia despite several setbacks in opening week

Egan Bernal’s hopes of contesting the general classification (GC) at this year’s Giro d’Italia remain officially unchanged despite a challenging first week. The former winner of the race has struggled to find form, suffering notable time losses on key climbs, including the Blockhaus summit finish on stage 7 where he fell behind main rivals. After eight stages, Bernal sits 15th overall, trailing race leader Afonso Eulálio by over six minutes, casting doubt on his ability to mount a serious challenge for the maglia rosa. Netcompany Ineos maintain confidence in Bernal’s prospects, emphasising that the race is far from over and that many mountain stages still lie ahead. Sports Director Leonardo Basso highlighted the team’s satisfaction with their tactical execution, particularly their positioning going into the Blockhaus climb, which was a crucial segment of the race. Basso stressed that the team followed their planned strategy closely, including their decision not to immediately respond to attacks from top contenders like Jonas Vingegaard, and insisted that Bernal’s role as a GC contender remains intact. Bernal himself expressed frustration and surprise at his performance, acknowledging that despite producing strong power outputs, he still lost significant time on the climbs. His early difficulties, including a high heart rate episode on stage 4, were addressed by the team, who clarified that this was not a recurring issue. Nonetheless, Bernal’s inability to keep pace with the evolving standards of the sport has raised questions about whether he can regain his previous dominance in Grand Tours. Meanwhile, teammate Thymen Arensman has quietly delivered consistent performances, even on stages less suited to his climbing style. With the upcoming stage 10 time trial potentially favouring Arensman, there is speculation that he could emerge as Ineos’ primary GC hope if Bernal’s form does not improve. The team’s strategy and leadership dynamic may therefore shift as the race progresses, depending on how both riders perform in the demanding mountain stages yet to come.