Season debut, with new team and first title achieved for Richard Carapaz after becoming champion of the online test of the national road cycling championshipsa title that the Carchense left pending in 2022, when he lost in the final sprint.
“It’s my first race of the year. The truth is that It is very special for me because I was able to run in my country, run in my hometown. For me, more than a victory, it’s an emotional victory because I remember running in these streetsthese are the streets I grew up on, so in this sense it’s a touching victory,” said the leader of the US EF Education-EasyPost team.
Richard Carapaz is the new national road champion
Carapaz prevailed over a route of 178.80 kilometers that covered the periphery and the downtown area of Tulcán. On the podium he was accompanied by his usual colleagues, with whom he worked since its inception: Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) was second and Alexander Cepeda ranked third, vest today his partner in the EF.
Unlike the previous season, when he ran alone (Ineos Grenadiers)this year Carapaz had a team, in addition to Cepeda was Jonathan Caicedochampion on Saturday in the individual time trial, who made the wear and tear in the escape on Sunday to clear the ground for the Olympic champion.
“The work that Jonathan and Alexander put in was really important. We meet before the test, They knew I wanted to win and on top of that we talked about having two of us on the podium and how great it would be.”, highlighted Carapaz, in statements collected by the portal of his squad.
🥇 and 🥉 for our squad in Ecuador today.
After nearly four hours of racing in the breakaway, the lead group was down to three riders, including Richard Carapaz and Alexander Cepeda. Richard put in attack on the final lap that carried him all the way to the finish. Congrats! pic.twitter.com/7X64ioZmhj
—EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) February 12, 2023
“They did a spectacular job. Caicedo drove the first part of the race very well and that means a lot to me. Later with Alexander, in the final part, he did a great job. Really it was a win for the whole team”, commented the carchense.
This triumph in the cycling nationals is the start of Carapaz with EF, where he arrives as squad leader and with the Tour de France as the main objective of the yearan event in which, as throughout this season, the Locomotive will wear the tricolor jersey that accredits him as Ecuadorian champion, a jersey that will also be adorned with gold badges as the current Olympic champion.
“I am very happy because now we can enjoy everything we have done. Being able to wear such a beautiful jersey in front of the world is really special.”, he indicated.
The victory comes after the complications at the beginning of the year, with a tonsil operation that forced Carapaz to delay his season planningwhich will also affect changes in its competition calendar in Europe.
🥇 and 🥉 for our runners today in Ecuador.
After almost four hours on the break, the main runners were reduced to a group of three, including Richard Carapaz and Alexander Cepeda. Richard attacked on the last lap that brought him to the finish line.
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/RHW0UFxEmm
—EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) February 12, 2023
“This was one of the most difficult stages I have had because there were many complications. There was the operation on my tonsils, so I started everything later. Honestly, I am very happy because now we can enjoy everything we have done. Victory gives us a sign that we are working well and that we are doing the hard work”, he pointed out. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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