The British team announced Monday that Eoghan Bernal has renewed his contract through the 2026 season and will race for Ineos Grenadiers for another five years.

The Colombian Giro d'Italia champion has spent four seasons with the team since moving from Androni Giocattoli in 2018. He won the Tour de France in 2019 and also has brilliant results in Paris-Nice and the Tour de Suisse.

Bernal, who turns 25 this week, had two more years left on his contract until the end of 2023, but has now agreed a "new five-year deal" with the team.

"Signing this new contract is really important," he said. I'm really happy with this team. I'm really proud of this team, of this staff. It's going to be the best years of my life and I want to spend them with this team. When I get to the race track, I feel like I have support and structure behind me. What I noticed from the beginning with this team is that everyone is working towards one goal. You can see and feel that everyone loves the sport and is really dedicated and has an all-in mentality."

Bernal made it clear that the Tour de France will be his goal this season.

"I really want to get back to the Tour. Last year I skipped it for the Giro, but it feels like it's been a long time since I've been in the Tour. So I'm really looking forward to this year. I want to lead a good team, prepare well, and enjoy the race."

Colombian and Italian media speculated that Bernal was unhappy with Ineos and was plotting a move, but he signed a contract until his 29th birthday, promising his future. Neo Pro's Luke Plapp, Magnus Sheffield, and Ben Tourette, as well as returning sprinter Elia Viviani, have signed contracts through 2024.

Deputy team principal Rod Ellingworth praised Bernal's courage and fighting spirit in defending his Giro lead in the final week under pressure from Simon Yates and Damiano Caruso; in September, he made his Vuelta a España debut In September, he made his Vuelta a España debut, finishing sixth while teammate Adam Yates took fourth.

"We've watched Egan grow with the team over the past four years," said Yates. He has proven time and again that he is a phenomenal talent." He has also shown that in difficult moments, he has great courage to pick himself up, put himself in his place, and start running again. [As a Grenadier and as a teammate, you can't ask for much more than that. It's going to be a big competition this season. Egan and the whole team are motivated to fight as hard as they can."

Bernal's 2022 race schedule has yet to be finalized, but the Tour will be a major goal for him this season, and in November he confirmed that his long-term back injury was in the past, a positive sign for the upcoming season.

"I think I'm fully recovered, but I'm still observing my evolution through physiotherapy sessions and strengthening in the gym.