Tour de France 2019 news - Egan Bernal: It's a feeling of happiness I can't describe

ByEurosport

Updated 29/07/2019 at 14:13 GMT

Egan Bernal says that he is in a state of disbelief following his victory at the 2019 Tour de France.

Egan Bernal, vainqueur du Tour de France 2019.

Image credit: Getty Images

The 22-year-old became the youngest rider in 110 years to win the race, with Team Ineos team-mate Geraint Thomas in second and Steven Kruijswijk of Team Jumbo–Visma third.

"It's incredible, I don't know what to say. I've won the Tour but I don't manage to believe it. I need a couple of days to assimilate all this," said Bernal.

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It's for my family and I just want to hug them. It's a feeling of happiness that I don't know how to describe it.

"This is the first Tour for us, Colombians. Many Colombians have tried before, we've had great cyclists in the past. But I'm the first one to win the Tour! Colombia deserves it."

The Colombian rider, who was set to lead Ineos at the Giro before he broke his collarbone during a training ride, placed 15th in the 2018 Tour, and according to Bradley Wiggins could go on to win an unprecedented 10 Tours.

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"Bernal's family will be so proud - it's right that he is treated as a hero. You can't help but feel proud for him, it's phenomenal to see," Wiggins said on the podcast.

"I would say at least five [Tour victories in Bernal's career]. I would go so as far as to say he will match [Lance] Armstrong's seven."

Bernal’s win means Ineos and its predecessor, Sky, have won seven of the last eight Tour de France titles.