Egan Bernal (open in new tab) once again made it Father Christmas for a Day by handing out toys to children in the Bolívar 83 neighborhood of Zipaquila, where he grew up.

The Giro d'Italia and Tour de France (open in new tab) winner recently returned to Colombia from the Ineos Grenadiers (open in new tab) training camp in Spain. He now lives elsewhere in Zipaquia, north of Bogota, but has never forgotten where he grew up.

Bernal, along with his mother, brother, and friends, distributed about 800 toys on December 24.

"It's a nice tradition to give out toys to kids in the neighborhood where I grew up," Bernal said in an Instagram video.

"It warms my heart to come back to this neighborhood to bring a little happiness to the kids. It's not something I do for attention, it's something I'm willing to do because I'm emotionally connected to this neighborhood."

Bernal won the 2021 Giro d'Italia and finished sixth overall at the Vuelta a España, but he won't be back to defend his victory in 2022. He has already started to battle for the Tour de France team lead, possibly with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma).

With no back problems and fully fit, Bernal looks to be Ineos Grenadier's best hope to reclaim the Tour de France title in 2022. Richard Kalapas seems well suited for the Giro d'Italia, where time trials are limited and the mountains are numerous.

"It is clear that I will focus all my preparation and efforts on competing in the Tour de France next year," Bernal recently told Cycling News, revealing his ambitions for the Tour.

"It's time to get back on the path I took in 2019 and a little bit away from that."

Bernal admitted earlier this month that his long-standing back problems were not completely cured this season and that treatment was part of his regular training and recovery schedule. However, he suggested to Mundo Ciclístico Magazine that the injury was now a thing of the past.

"I think I have fully recovered, but I have still observed an evolution through physical therapy sessions and strengthening in the gym.