Ineos Grenadiers will start its first stage races of the 2022 season on Wednesday at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and Etoile de Bessèges in France. Team officials at the Spanish race told Cycling News that team leader Egan Bernal will be very important to the team as he undergoes further surgery after a bad training crash in Colombia.

"It's a very motivated team. It's the start of the season and everyone wants to do their best to get the best result," director Servais Naveen told Cycling News before the start of the first stage in Alqueri.

"There are a few unknowns. It's hard to know how our rivals will perform, but our riders have trained well and are ready. But the first race of the season is always special"

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But while the team is racing in Spain, their thoughts are still on Bernal.

According to Knaben, the team is constantly receiving updates on Bernal's condition, and several members of the Ineos Grenadiers staff remain in South America with the Colombian. However, Knaben recognizes that the speed of Bernal's recovery is still uncertain. Or, as he puts it: "It's a big thing that we can't see."

"Everyone is rooting for Egan and hoping for a speedy recovery. 'Just how long it will take, no one can put a number on it. Let's hope for the best and support him in every way we can."

In Valenciana and from here on out, the players of Ineos Grenadiers will be running for victory for Bernal.

"It's on everyone's mind. It might be an extra motivation. But the most important thing is that Egan recovers," Knaben said.

Bernal had planned to lead Ineos Grenadier at the Tour de France, but the team has yet to fully consider changing its leadership strategy. Geraint Thomas will aim for the Tour de France, while Richard Calapas, Tao Geoghegan Hart, and Tom Pidcock will aim for the Giro d'Italia.

"It's still in the planning stages. We have to look at everything and put it all together to see if we want to change the Grand Tour lineup or not," Knaven said.

"It's not an overnight decision. It also depends a little bit on the younger riders and if they step up in the team, we may be able to add them to the Grand Tour lineup.

The top priority, Knaven told Cycling News, is to get Bernal up to speed.

"That's the most important thing. Of course, we are also thinking about what happens if Egan does not compete in the Tour. But nothing has been decided yet."

As far as the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is concerned, Ineos Grenadiers will be joined by Geogheghan Hart, third overall in the 2020 Valenciana, Pavel Sivakov, and young Spanish talent Carlos Rodriguez, and has a trio of potential GC contenders.

In addition, Elia Viviani, back in the Ineos Grenadiers, will be looking to sprint.

"All three are climbing very well and have had a good winter, so let's see who has the legs and can compete with the best," said Knaben, who is aware that the race will begin with a hilly finish and dirt roads.

"We'll see how things go a little bit today, and Friday will be the hardest day and will decide the GC.

"Then we will know where Lemko Evenepoel and Alejandro Valverde are. There are a few others. But it is difficult to predict these early stage races. Some of the young riders will have stepped up over the winter."