Egan Bernal
He shattered cycling's European stronghold, becoming the first Latin American to win the Tour de France with a devastating attack in the high Alps.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Colombian cyclist·Birthday: January 13·Generation Z
Biography
Egan Bernal emerged from the thin air of Zipaquirá, Colombia, a boy on a mountain bike who would become a grand tour assassin. His prodigious talent for climbing was honed on the brutal Andean ascents, a training ground that produced a rider of preternatural calm and explosive power. Signed by the mighty Team Ineos (formerly Sky), he was their blueprint for the future: a lightweight climber who could also time trial. His 2019 Tour de France victory was a masterclass in tactical patience and seizing a moment. Trailing behind the favorites on the iconic Col de l'Iseran, he unleashed a blistering attack that left the race in tatters, claiming the yellow jersey and, days later, history. His 2021 Giro d'Italia win proved it was no fluke, a display of resilience through cold and crashes. Then, in early 2022, a training crash with a bus in Colombia left him with life-threatening injuries, fracturing his spine and knee. His comeback to racing is a story of physical and mental grit, a champion navigating a new relationship with the sport that defined him.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Egan was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Egan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Egan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Colombian and Latin American cyclist to win the Tour de France in 2019.
- Won the Giro d'Italia in 2021, securing his second Grand Tour victory at age 24.
- Claimed the prestigious Paris-Nice stage race in 2019, a key early season victory.
- Became the youngest Tour de France winner in over a century, at 22 years old.
Did You Know?
He originally dreamed of being a mountain biker and only switched to road cycling at age 16.
His hometown of Zipaquirá is famous for its underground Salt Cathedral, which he has cited as an inspiration.
He is an avid fan of MMA and football, and has trained in mixed martial arts for cross-training.
After his 2022 crash, he had 20 fractures and underwent multiple surgeries, including one on his spine.
“I think the most important thing is to enjoy what you do. If you enjoy it, you can suffer better.”
