Egan Bernal dismisses rumour of transfer to Visma for 2026

Egan Bernal has dismissed a rumour linking him with a shock move to Visma | Lease a Bike for the 2026 season. The Colombian champion confirmed to Caracol Sportsthat he will remain an Ineos rider next year.

The surprising rumour that Bernal would become a deluxe domestique for Jonas Vingegaard next year was floated by RAI pundit Beppe Conti last week. It was swiftly snuffed out by Bernal over the weekend.

“Next year I’ll definitely be at Ineos,” Bernal said. “Obviously, I have a good relationship with Jonas and Visma is a super strong team and I have total respect and admiration for what they do, but in this moment, I’m focused on doing the Worlds and Il Lombardia and having a good finish to the season.”

Bernal has been at Ineos – then known as Team Sky – since 2018, and he won the 2019 Tour de France and 2021 Giro d’Italia in their colours. His career was interrupted by a horrific training crash in January 2022, but he is currently enjoying his most successful season since before the incident.

The 28-year-old won the time trial and road race at the Colombian championships and he placed seventh overall at the Giro d’Italia, where he impressed on the gravel stage to Siena.

Although Bernal’s GC ambitions at the Vuelta a España faded on La Farrapona, he bounced back to win stage 16 to Mos, which was shortened by 8km due to pro-Palestine demonstrations on the finishing climb to Castro de Herville.

“I’m very happy in this team, it’s a place where I’m treated well and always have been,” Bernal said of Ineos. “And it’s a team that has given me so much, I’ve been here since 2018. They supported me throughout my recovery process, I feel at home, and they’ve treated me well.”

Bernal’s current contract with Ineos – publicly announced just days before his crash in 2022 – is due to expire at the end of next season. 

“The truth is that I will be at Ineos until next year,” Bernal said. “After that, different options may open up, but for the moment, they are not being considered because I will continue where I am.”