Egan Bernal will begin the 2023 season at the Vuelta a San Juan, looking to return to the Tour de France after a three-year absence. The Ineos rider missed most of the season after suffering life-threatening injuries in a training crash in Colombia in January.

Earlier this week, Filippo Ganna confirmed his participation in the Vuelta a San Juan, which runs from January 22-29, and Bernal will also join the Ineos lineup.

"Bernal will almost certainly start at the Vuelta a San Juan in the Argentine heat, and Ganna will be there," Ineos director sportif Matteo Tosat told La Gazzetta dello Sport (opens in new tab).

"Egan needs to build up his endurance and get into the rhythm of the race, so we expect short stage races of five or six days, like the Algarve, Ruta del Sol, Valenciana, and the UAE Tour.

Bernal fell while training near Bogota on January 24 and spent 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.

However, just two months later, the 25-year-old was back on his bike and resumed training with his Ineos team in July; he returned to competition at the Tour of Denmark in August and competed in the Deutschland Tour, Giro della Toscana, and Coppa Sabatini

Bernal.

Bernal returned to the bike shortly thereafter, attending Ineos' pre-season planning camp in Nice in mid-October before leaving for a two-week vacation in Peru. According to La Gazzetta, during his rehabilitation Bernal worked closely with Ineos' head doctor working closely with Rafael Santos. He will attend the Ineos' training camp in Mallorca in December.

"With the knee problem resolved, any doubts have been removed. 'He could spend his vacation relaxing. In Nice, he said to me, 'I'm going to go to the training camp. In Nice he said to me: 'As always, a real rider. In Nice he said to me: 'I can start the season like I always do, like a real rider. I just want to get back to my old self.

Bernal's full race calendar for 2023 has not yet been finalized, but Strade Bianche and Tirreno Adriatico, who finished third in 2021, could be included in the initial schedule. Said Tosat, "As for the whole program, we'll have to see how he runs in the spring."

According to La Gazzetta, Ineos' Giro lineup could feature Geraint Thomas, Ganna, Carlos Rodriguez, and newcomer Timen Aresman, while Bernal's agent, Giuseppe Acquadro, Colombia people are looking to return to the Tour, which they won in 2019, he said. 'If Bernal recovers and things go well, his Grand Tour will be the Tour de France. Ineos can't do without him."