Igan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) said the 2023 Criterium du Dauphiné will determine his future race program.

Before the first stage of the Dauphiné, Bernal noted that the 2023 race will be his first major event in nearly two years and an important test for his return to top form after a life-threatening accident in January 2022.

Bernal said that the Criterium du Dauphiné is currently the only event on his upcoming program.

"I'm in good shape. But training is different than racing, so this will be a good test for me," Bernal told FloBikes.

He sent out an optimistic message on his Instagram after the stage. He said, "It was a very wet first stage with lots of rain, but it gave me more hope and motivation than ever before.

"Remember that to reach the moon you must aim for the sun."

After finishing the hilly finale of the first stage in 21st place and safely in the main group, the key test this week for Bernal will be the time trial on stage 4 and the three mountain stages beginning Friday.

The Colombian, who finished eighth in his most recent race, the Tour de Hongri in mid-May, despite a big crash on the first stage, says he is not looking at finishing the Dauphiné at the moment.

"Honestly, I'm not thinking that far ahead," Bernal told FloBikes. 'I want to finish this race and I want to know where I stand.'

"It's my first big race in two years, so it's a good test. So the best case scenario is to finish this race and really know where I'm at."

Bernal seemed really uncertain about where the next race would be, saying only, "It depends on how the race goes."

"I don't know what's going to happen to me, my coach doesn't know, and neither does everyone else. But this race will be a good test, and I have a few options."

He added, "I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm sure I can do it.

Following Sunday's first stage, a series of tough climbs on the finish circuit, Monday's second Dauphiné stage from Brassac-lès-Minet to La Chaise-Dieu will again be hilly, ending with a 5.1% gradient uphill sprint finish in the last 1km. But the race's biggest challenge for Bernal will come on Wednesday and beyond.