After a two-month break from competition, Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) is finally back in the saddle to prepare for his next big goals: the Vuelta a España and the World Championships.

The Colombian rider's last appearance was at the Giro d'Italia, where he finished an excellent seventh place in the general classification in what he himself described as a "dream" race, showing glimpses of the talent that had led him to victory in the Giro d'Italia in 2021.

After a rest period in Europe followed by a training block in Colombia, Bernal is ready to return to racing at the Vuelta a Burgos, the first step towards the Vuelta a España where he will aim for the general classification.

"The preparation went very well," the rider said. "After the Giro, I rested for ten days in Europe, then returned to Colombia to build the necessary base for a Grand Tour. I started with a lot of mileage, and then gradually increased the intensity. I feel good and can't wait to get back to racing."

At the Vuelta a Burgos, with its steep climbs like Lagunas de Neila, Bernal will have to find the right balance between the desire to win and the need to prepare for the Vuelta as best he can. "It will depend on how I feel," he explained. "The main goal is to regain my race pace for the Vuelta, but obviously I'd also like to try to win."

The dream of three of a kind

Winner of the 2019 Tour and the 2021 Giro, Bernal has a chance to complete the triple crown of Grand Tours by winning the Vuelta. "It's my dream," he admitted. "I don't know if I'll achieve it, but I wake up every day thinking about being the best again. That's why I keep pedaling."

After the Vuelta, Bernal confirmed that he will also participate in the World Championships in Rwanda, where the hilly course might suit his characteristics. It will be his first participation in the Elite World Championships.