Egan Bernal became Colombia's first Tour de France champion in 2019
(Picture: EPA)Former Tour de France winner Egan Bernal remains in intensive care after crashing into a parked bus in training.
The 25-year-old underwent lengthy surgery on Monday to repair fractures in his right leg and kneecap as well as dislocated fractures in his spine.
Pictures appeared on social media of Bernal being treated on the road next to a heavily dented bus after the high-speed crash. The Ineos Grenadiers team said he was accompanied to hospital by team medical staff and that he “was conscious upon arrival”.
A statement from the Clinica Universidad de La Sabana in Bogota where Bernal is being treated said: “We will wait for his progress over the next 72 hours in the intensive care unit to see the response to the course of treatment.
“We have immediately begun the rehabilitation process to achieve the best possible results with our patient.”
Bernal had opted not to join the rest of his team in Europe for pre-season training, preferring instead to prepare for 2022 in his native Colombia.
Following his Giro d’Italia victory last season, he agreed terms on a new five-year deal with Ineos Grenadiers at the start of this year.
Bernal had targeted a second Tour victory as his primary goal for 2022, a target which obviously hangs in the balance following the seriousness of his injuries.
