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Defending Champion Bernal Withdraws from Tour de France

Egan Bernal of Colombia. Reuters file photo
Egan Bernal of Colombia. Reuters file photo
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Defending Champion Bernal Withdraws from Tour de France

Egan Bernal of Colombia. Reuters file photo
Egan Bernal of Colombia. Reuters file photo

Last year's winner Egan Bernal has withdrawn from the Tour de France, his Ineos team said on Wednesday, after the young Colombian fell out of contention and complained of back trouble.

The Colombian, 23, saw his title defense effectively extinguished on Sunday, the first major mountain stage, when he slipped to more than eight minutes off the pace.

"This is obviously not how I wanted my Tour de France to end, but I agree that it is the right decision for me in the circumstances," Bernal said in a team statement.

Jumbo rider Primoz Roglic leads the race from fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar ahead of Wednesday's Stage 17.

"We have taken this decision with Egan's best interests at heart," said Ineos team principal Dave Brailsford.

"Egan is a true champion who loves to race, but he is also a young rider, with many Tours ahead of him and at this point, on balance, we feel it is wiser for him to stop racing."

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Hamilton Calls Ferrari Debut 'Most Exciting Period of My Life'

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy
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Hamilton Calls Ferrari Debut 'Most Exciting Period of My Life'

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy
Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he was itching to get going during the "most exciting period of my life" at Ferrari, but cautioned of a transition period as he gets used to a new car.

After 12 years with Mercedes he will race for the first time in the Ferrari red at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this week, knowing expectations are high.

The seven-time world champion officially began work at the Scuderia in January after his shock move and completed 162 laps of testing in Bahrain.

The 40-year-old said it was hard to assess Ferrari's place in the pecking order so early in the season.

"Obviously three days in the car, difficult to know where we stand with everyone else. But we just try to keep our heads down and just focus on our job," he said in Melbourne, according to AFP.

"But for me, I mean, I'm just itching to get going, I guess it's been a long time coming."

Ferrari were pipped to the constructors' championship by McLaren last year, the seventh time the Italian team had finished second since they last won the team title in 2008.

Kimi Raikkonen was the last driver to lift the world championship for Ferrari in 2007 and Hamilton tempered expectations about what he might achieve.

"I have an expectation for myself. I know what I can bring, I know I can deliver, I know what it's going to take to do that, and it's just getting your head down and working away," he said.

"So I come with a very open mind. It is about getting into the season, this is about getting into a good rhythm.

"I'm still learning this new car that's quite a lot different to what I've driven for my previous career, in the sense of Mercedes power coming into Ferrari power," he added.

"It's something quite new, different vibration, different feel, different way of working.

"The whole team works completely differently."