Egan Bernal has admitted that he is unlikely to compete in next month's Vuelta a España, but confirmed his intention to return to competition this season.

Bernal suffered life-threatening injuries in a training crash in Colombia in January, but his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule, leading to speculation that he could return to the peloton as early as August.

The 2019 Tour de France winner is currently in a team training camp in Andorra, but Ineos Grenadiers insists that no date has yet been set for his return to racing.

Speaking on Vincenzo Nibali's Twitch channel Squalo TV (opens in new tab), Bernal largely ruled out competing in the Vuelta, but confirmed that his recovery is better than expected. He added that he would like to wear a number to participate in the last race of Nibali's career, which will be held in Italy. Nibali will end his road career at Il Lombardia on October 8.

"It's almost a definite no, because the Vuelta is difficult," Bernal said. I've talked to the teams and the coaches, and at the start a month or two ago it was impossible to think about this year's race, because it would have been a very difficult race, and I'm not sure I would have made it." But I do want to race in Italy, which will be the last race of the season."

Bernal made his Vuelta debut last year in his quest for a complete Grand Tour victory. He arrived in Madrid in sixth place overall, but had a long-distance attack on stage 17, Lagos de Covadonga, with eventual winner Primos Roglic.

The Vuelta was Bernal's last race before his training crash. The 25-year-old Bernal spent nearly two weeks in the intensive care unit after suffering a fractured vertebra, fractured right femur, fractured right patella, chest trauma, punctured lung, and broken ribs in a crash near Bogota on January 24.

Just two months later, Bernal resumed training on the road and in May traveled to Europe to continue his rehabilitation; La Gazzetta dello Sport reported last week that Bernal is eyeing a return to competition at the Vuelta a Burgos (August 2-6). La Gazzetta dello Sport reported last week that Bernal was eyeing a return to competition at the Vuelta a Burgos (August 2-6), but while his participation in the high altitude camp in Andorra represents a new phase in his rehabilitation, the Ineos Grenadiers remain cautious about his eventual plans for a return to racing.