Rumors that Egan Bernal of Ineos Grenadiers will return to racing this summer began to circulate after a Colombian doctor who treated him after a life-threatening crash claimed that Bernal was "fully recovered."

Bernal is recovering from a training crash at 60 km/h on January 24 in which he suffered a fractured vertebra, a broken right femur, a fractured right patella, chest trauma, a punctured lung, and several broken ribs.

According to Colombian radio station Caracol.com.co, Dr. Gustavo Uriza said at a medical conference, "120 days after the accident, I think Egan will be in good condition to return to training and competition again. But it depends on whether his coach will give him permission to do so," he said. He added that Bernal's vertebrae are healed and his ribs are recovering.

The journalists' quick calculations led to speculation that the Ineos Grenadiers rider could return to racing as early as late May, in time for the 2022 Tour de France.

Also, a report in Thursday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Bernal, who is scheduled to return to Europe this Saturday, is currently training up to four hours per session and could return in late July or August According to the report.

"I hope to be able to ride again this weekend," Bernal said at a press conference, according to Caracol. 'We land, get off the plane, and the first thing I'm going to do is ride my bike.'

However, according to Cycling News, Bernal's possible return to racing is not currently being discussed inside Ineos Grenadiers.