CARCASSONNE, France — The youngest rider at the Tour de France is showing all the signs of becoming cycling’s next big star.
Egan Bernal of Colombia proved his worth – and more – by working as a trailblazer for Sky teammates Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome up the zigzagging ascent of Alpe d’Huez last week.
Bernal’s effort set up Thomas to win the grueling 12th stage and strengthen his hold on the yellow jersey, and for Froome to protect second place in a dominant choral performance by Sky.
The ascent up one of the Tour’s iconic climbs promises to be a signature moment for Bernal, who at 21 is the youngest of the 176 riders to start the Tour and yet already appears to have the making of a winner.
“It felt great to be there on Alpe d’Huez, a mythic climb, and leading the group,” Bernal said two days after his impressive Alpine trek. “And on top of that, having Geraint, who is the leader, and Froome, who is one of the best cyclists in history, right behind, it was important for me.”
The plan was for Bernal to pull for five kilometers of the demanding ascent. But when the legs flagged on another teammate, he went on for another three kilometers and set a pace that Nairo Quintana, a fellow Colombian and two-time Tour runner-up, couldn’t match.
Froome said he sees his younger self in his precocious partner.
“He’s got an amazing engine. You only have to look at what he did on Alpe d’Huez. For a 21-year-old, that’s amazing,” Froome said. “There is a lot in Egan that reminds me of myself when I was younger. It’s great having him on the team and he brings a lot of young, new energy to the group.”
Bernal joined Sky for this season and won the Colombia Oro y Paz race in February ahead of Quintana and last year’s Tour runner-up, Rigoberto Uran.
Bernal was running a close second to Alejandro Valverde at the Tour of Catalonia before crashing on the final stage, but rebounded by winning the Tour of California ahead of Tejay Van Garderen in May.
Sky then picked Bernal for its eight-man team to help Froome shoot for a fifth Tour title.
Bernal crashed near the end of Stage 1 and joined the scores of riders who wiped out on the cobblestones of Roubaix on Stage 9. But in the mountains, he’s finishing among the top riders.
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