Few riders know Egan Bernal as well as his partner, Oscar Sevilla, who trains deep in the Colombian city of Bogota; two decades apart, the Spanish expat and his young companion are an odd couple, but Bernal has gone from promising mountain biker to They have forged a tight friendship over the past six years as he has grown from a promising mountain biker to a Tour de France champion.

Neither Bernal's entry into the World Tour with Team Sky (now Team Ineos) nor his winning of the maillot jaune has changed this relationship. This winter, the relationship with Bernal has been business as usual.

"We train together every day when we are both in Colombia," Sevilla told Cycling News. Brandon Rivera is currently with Ineos."

At this week's Vuelta a San Juan, Sevilla is competing in the colors of Continental's Team Medellín, but his gloves are a gift from Bernal and bear the Team Sky logo.

Ironically, the 43-year-old Sevilla was involved in a blood doping investigation by Operacion Puerto and tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch in 2010.

Ineos' stance on players training with Sevilla is unclear, but Bernal was adamant in his defense of his friendship with the Spaniard in an interview with Le Monde last October.

"At the time he was involved in Operacion Puerto, I didn't know him. When I saw him, I saw a friend now, not a cyclist who had won big races. I am sorry if that offended you." 'He is still my friend, a great guy, still with his family, always there for others. For the sake of my reputation, I don't think it matters"

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Sevilla also praised the 23-year-old's work ethic in the frenzied weeks and months following his Tour victory. Sevilla marveled at how this young man managed to distance himself from the distractions of celebrity in a country where cyclists enjoy the same prestige as soccer players.

"Egan won the Tour and changed his life as a person. I think he must be one of the few riders who wins the Tour de France and is already at his ideal weight the following December," Sevilla said.

"It's hard for a Tour winner because of all the ceremonies and events, but Egan has a very simple life. Even after the Tour he had a six-hour training ride to prepare for Lombardia."

Despite the generational differences, Sevilla avoided describing their relationship as master-pupil and downplayed the idea that he had much to offer Bernal in terms of tactics and training advice.

"We talk a little during training, but it's a healthy discussion," Sevilla said. 'I give him my opinion and he gives me his. He is very intelligent. He knows how to read the race and read his competitors."

Sevilla will face Bernal in the Tour Colombia 2.1 in Boyaca, but this week at the Vuelta a San Juan he met another precocious talent. He had the chance to assess Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) at the closest possible distance on stage 5 to Alto Colorado. [At one point, Sevilla was 1:18 behind the lead group and kept a grimace on his junior's handlebars, but the pair closed the gap and kept their place on the podium. It's a personal victory," Sevilla said. My head was stronger than my legs," Sevilla said. Sevilla is now in third place, 1:01 back. Sevilla said, "Lemko is very strong and has already made leaps in quality since last year. He is one of the most promising young riders of late, along with Egan and Pogacar."

Bernal and Pogacar are already on the Grand Tour podium, and 20-year-old Evenpoel has already won the Clasica San Sebastian and European time trial titles. But whether his aptitude for the three-week race remains to be seen. His true value may be revealed when he makes his Grand Tour debut at this year's Giro d'Italia.

"The Giro will be his first real test [as a Grand Tour rider]," Sevilla said. 'He has to do three weeks of racing and a day-by-day recovery. But when you look at what he's already doing at 20 years old, it's clear he has great potential. No rider can win in San Sebastian against a rider from the Tour de France."

Even though Evenpoel and Bernal may be far apart in riding style and cycling background, Sevilla highlighted one similarity between the two young talents. They are very similar in that they are young riders with ambition. They want to win everything," Sevilla said.

"They are different from other young riders. The other young riders progress gradually, but Egan and Lemko are like advanced students, superdotados. I know Egan well and his mentality and maturity is remarkable. He is a warrior. Even on training rides, he wants to win. I think Lemko is the same way."

Sevilla has earned the phenomenal Parma as the culmination of a decade-long career in South America, but the ride with Bernal, 2,600 meters above sea level, tends to last longer than anyone else. "For me," Sevilla said, "it's an advantage to be able to observe riders like that in training. Sevilla said."