Egan Bernal leads Ineos Grenadiers at the Vuelta as Filippo Ganna makes return from Tour crash

Mathew Mitchell

Published on August 21, 2025
in Men's Cycling

Egan Bernal will head up Ineos Grenadiers at the 2025 Vuelta a España, with the Colombian set for his second Grand Tour of the season and Filippo Ganna returning to racing after his Tour de France concussion. The British team confirmed its line-up on Thursday, naming a blend of experience and fresh ambition as they look to build on stage wins already claimed at both the Giro and Tour this year.

Bernal showed signs of his best form in May when he finished seventh overall at the Giro d’Italia. Now, after a solid training block, he will aim higher in Spain. “I’m relishing the challenge of leading the Ineos Grenadiers at this year’s Vuelta,” Bernal said in the team’s announcement. “It’s a race that always delivers aggressive, unpredictable racing – which is what I enjoy. My preparation has been good, and with the team we’re bringing we can be confident. Starting in Italy also gives me extra motivation after so many special moments racing there.”

Egan-Bernal-returns-to-racing-for-Vuelta-a-Espana-and-Worlds-preparation-at-Vuelta-a-Burgos-1 — Egan Bernal

The return of Ganna provides another key storyline. The Italian has not raced since crashing out on stage 2 of the Tour de France and suffering a serious concussion. He has had a long road back to training, but with a team time trial on stage 5 and a lengthy individual time trial on stage 18, his presence could be decisive. Even if he is not yet at full power, he will carry hopes of a stage victory, particularly with the Vuelta beginning in his home region of Piemonte.

The squad around Bernal and Ganna carries depth. Michał Kwiatkowski brings invaluable experience, Magnus Sheffield adds firepower, and Victor Langelotti arrives in strong form following his impressive Tour de Pologne. Lucas Hamilton, Bob Jungels, and Brandon Rivera round out the eight-rider selection. Performance Director Scott Drawer highlighted the balance: “Egan comes into the race as our leader, supported by a group that mixes climbing strength, time trial power and experience. It’s a team that can fight for opportunities and race in a style that’s been consistent with our approach at both the Giro and the Tour de France. We can’t wait to get racing.”

divFilippo-Ganna-wins-sixth-mens-national-time-trial-championshipsdiv — Filippo Ganna

For Ineos, the Vuelta comes at a time when they are still trying to re-establish themselves among the top Grand Tour outfits. Their three stage wins this year – Josh Tarling at the Giro and Thymen Arensman with two at the Tour – show progress, but the team will be judged on whether riders like Bernal can reach podium level once again. The Colombian has been edging closer since his crash in early 2022, and a breakthrough here would signal a full return to the sport’s top tier.

The presence of a rejuvenated Bernal alongside Ganna’s comeback story gives Ineos a strong narrative heading into Spain. With the unpredictable nature of the Vuelta, the squad may not dominate as they once did, but they will arrive with multiple cards to play. And while Mark Cavendish may be chasing sprint wins elsewhere in the race, the Grenadiers’ focus will remain firmly on climbing days and time trial opportunities, a blend that makes them one of the most intriguing teams to watch this August.