Ineos Grenadiers has confirmed that Egan Bernal will return to racing in Europe at the end of March after a knee injury sidelined his 2023 season. The Colombian and Ineos are expected to choose between Volta a Catalunya and Settimana Coppi e Bartali, depending on Bernal's condition.

The 2019 Tour de France winner has made a miraculous recovery from a crash during a high-speed training run last January, but Ineos Grenadiers is cautious and protective about his recovery. He is not guaranteed a place in the 2023 Tour de France.

Dani Martinez and Carlos Rodriguez are likely to lead Ineos in the Tour de France, as Geraint Thomas is still expected to lead Ineos despite missing his debut in the Giro d'Italia due to illness. Bernal could still be part of an eight-man team, but without the pressure and expectations of winning the Tour.

"Egan will be back in Europe soon, hopefully racing at the end of the month," Ineos-Grenadier team manager Rod Ellingworth told Cycling News.

"He is obviously frustrated, but we are supporting him. He seems to have a knee injury, but it has nothing to do with the accident and crash he had last year. Egan wants to race, but often with athletes like this you have to hold him back."

Bernal's talent and victory in the 2019 Tour de France has propelled him into the hierarchy of the Ineos Tour de France, but a spot on the Tour de France team is not guaranteed.

"At the end of the day, we have 30 cyclists and any one of them could ride the Tour. We have to line up the best eight, right?" Ellingworth suggested, before showing his support for Bernal.

"What we know about Egan, and what we were able to see last year, is that he is ready to do the hard work for the team, whether he is the leader or not. In that sense, he is like Geraint Thomas. They are great role models for the younger guys.

"If Egan was fit enough, there would be no reason not to take him to Tool because of his experience and the help he gives to the team. The door is completely open and the Tour is still four months away."

Bernal's injury leaves the Ineos Grenadiers without a true Tour de France contender.

Thomas, who stepped up his game at last year's Tour de France by finishing third behind Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) and Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates), is now in what may be the last season of his long career. The veteran Welsh rider has his sights set on the Giro d'Italia.

Tom Pidcock, Pavel Sivakov, and Tao Geoghegan Hart all have Grand Tour potential and could run the Grand Boucle this year, but last year Ineos failed to win any of the three Grand Tours for the first time since 2014. They have signed a lot of exciting and talented young riders, but they probably need a year or two to develop and become Tour de France podium contenders.

Ineos Grenadier made the bold move of trying to sign Lemko Evenpole over the winter, as they lacked a true Tour de France contender for 2023.

"I don't think it's possible to win the Tour all the time," Ellingworth admitted honestly, naming Martinez and Rodriguez as the Tour de France leaders this summer.

Martinez won the 2020 Criterium du Dauphiné and the 2022 Iturria Basque, but suffered from poor health at the 2022 Tour; 22-year-old Rodriguez, who finished seventh in his debut race at last year's Vuelta a España, is a future Spanish He is considered a future Grand Tour winner in Spain. His contract with Ineos expires this year, so a protected role in the Tour de France could persuade him to turn down offers from other teams, especially Movistar.

"Steve Cummings is leading the project, putting together a group with an eye on the Tour, and we're doing our best as usual," Ellingworth explained. [Dani Martinez and Carlos Rodriguez will get their chance at the Tour. I think this year is the ideal Tour for Dani and he is still growing and improving.

"I think he is a really exciting rider and never gives up. He won the Volta ao Algarve time trial this year and he won the Tour de Suisse last year. I expect great things from Dani and for him to do well in the Tour."