Richard Carapaz put cycling in Ecuador on the world map. Since the success of Carchense – plus the task of other tricolor cyclists who compete in professional teams and who have won stages in races of universal size – the sport and its national representatives are viewed with respect and admiration on the planet.

Carchense made history by winning stage eight of the 2018 Giro d’Italia with Movistar. Never before has an Ecuadorian cyclist achieved such success in this traditional competition, one of the three most important in the world. It was a slightly longer preamble because Carapaz finished the 2019 edition of the Giro as the overall leader.

At the 2020 Vuelta a España, he was second, and at the 2021 Tour de France, he finished third on the podium. Locomotive del Carchi also added, in that illustrious period, a gold medal, in road mode, at the Tokyo Olympics. Now the Education First (EF) cyclist is a figurehead in his sport and therefore a newspaper Earthfrom Spain, took advantage of the presence of the tricolor in Volta a Catalunya to interview him.

‘They didn’t bet on me’

Journalist Jordi Quixano, the author of the interview, reminded Carapazo that after the coronation in Tokyo in 2020, “in his celebration, he resented Ecuador for never helping him. In what sense?”.

On July 24, 2021, at the press conference after his Olympic dedication, the cyclist condemned: “We had to find a masseur, we came alone. We used the people from Ineos who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked for help from people for this and they are the ones who really gave us a hand when we needed it”.

This is how he responded to Earth, last Saturday, to the mentioned question: “When I started, I had no financial resources. They had talent and as a country they didn’t bet on me. I didn’t ask to be paid, but I asked to be taken to the Pan American Games, to Bolivar… They didn’t support me with a bike, clothes, or races. That’s my complaint. I couldn’t expect anything from people, but now in Ecuador cycling is in fashion and my name is very important. They applaud me and I really appreciate it. I hope it continues to grow.”

Carapaz was asked if cycling gave him the life he dreamed of, and the athlete, who will turn 30 next May, was specific: “I didn’t have high expectations from where he came from. But I’m doing a job I love and I’m getting paid. I’m very happy.”

‘I was driven by ambition’

Quixano describes him: “He speaks slowly and hisses, although sometimes with a mischievous smile, which is a characteristic of his personality and cycling. Head of Education First, he sees the Volta as something more than training for his big goal, the Tour de France”.

In the interview, Carapaz comments on the reasons for leaving Ineos for EF. “I signed because we had a lot in common and I was attracted by the fact that we share goals. They said they want to win the Tour… well, I want that too, you know? That brought us together. Looking for such a big and ambitious thing, stronger”.

Does ambition define him, Madrid newspapers ask, and this is how he answered who is already one of the best Ecuadorian athletes of all time: “Ambition created Richard Carapaz. In Ecuador there was no tradition, almost no resources, and my ambition led me to Olympic gold, winning a great tour (Giro 2019), second podium at the Giro 2022 and Tour 2020, and the third in the Ecuador Tour 2021)…”. (D)