Dani Martínez: Egan Bernal is a champion on and off the bike

LOULE PORTUGAL FEBRUARY 20 LR Remco Evenepoel of Belgium and Team QuickStep Alpha Vinyl yellow leader jersey and Daniel Felipe Martinez Poveda of Colombia and Team INEOS Grenadiers compete in the breakaway during the 48th Volta Ao Algarve 2022 Stage 5 a 173km stage from Lagoa to MalhoLoul 514m VAlgarve2022 on February 20 2022 in Loule Portugal Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Daniel Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) races up the Alto do Malhão with Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

It was the defining image of Egan Bernal's Giro d'Italia victory, and in the hours and days after his life-threatening training crash last month, it was reposted across social media as a sign of solidarity and support.

The photograph showed Bernal, in pink and floundering, lost in a seemingly losing effort. In the foreground was Daniel Martínez, half-turned and with an arm outstretched and fist clenched, exhorting his Ineos Grenadiers leader to stay the course. 

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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