Egan Bernal (Netcompany INEOS) intends to start the 2027 season but has not committed beyond that. The Colombian addressed speculation about his future in an Instagram statement on October 8.
The 29-year-old has not raced since the Tour de France and did not set a retirement date. He pointed to the length of his contract.
"First of all, I have a contract with the team through 2029 and, for now, my intention is to start next season," Bernal said.
He said the break after the Tour was his own decision. "This year, I decided to end my season after the Tour de France," he said, explaining that he needed time "to rest, take a step back, and rediscover the peace of mind that sometimes gets lost in the constant rhythm of competition."
Bernal finished 10th overall at the Giro d'Italia this year and 20th at the Tour. He said he had discussed his situation with his team and those close to him.
"I have had conversations with the team and with the people around me, and we are all on the same page: I want to give myself the time and space necessary to face whatever is next with the same conviction and dedication that I have always had," he said.
A condition on continuing
Bernal said he did not yet know what the coming years would bring. "I don't know exactly what the coming years will bring, and I don't think I need to know everything right now," he said.
He did set out what would keep him racing. "What I do know for sure is that as long as I keep racing, I want to do so with the conviction that I still have a lot to give," he said. "It's not just about continuing for the sake of continuing, but about having the motivation, the physical and mental strength, and the will to remain competitive and make a difference."
Bernal won the Tour de France in 2019 and the Giro in 2021. In 2022 he suffered a serious crash that his team has described as near career-ending. His rebuild reached a high point at the 2025 Vuelta a España, where he won a stage, his first Grand Tour stage win since the crash.
His contract means Netcompany INEOS can expect him at the start of 2027. Whether he stays in the peloton until 2029 will depend on the test he has set himself.
