How Richard Carapaz arrives at the Tour de France 2023

With barely flashes shown this 2023Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz wants to be the surprise of the 110th edition Tour of Francewhich arrives as EF Education-EasyPost team leader.

are just seven events that Carchense is adding to his season tourcalendar that underwent changes after the tonsil surgery he underwent at the end of 2022 and whose “complicated recovery” forced to change his work in preparation on the way to the French car.

This is how it went for Richard Carapazo at the Grand Tours

Olympic champion has been questioned in the cycling community for its performance. He started the year with the title of the national road championship in Tulcán (February), but then he hardly excelled in races where he had to face strong names in the peloton.

Secondary positions mark the Ecuadorian’s season. He was 72 Milan-Turin and in the 51st back to Cataloniain March, in Miguel Indurain Grand Prize he took 11th place and had to retire in Itzulia Basque Countryin April, due to a respiratory problem.

He returned to the podium in May after winning the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, in France, but in The Critérium du Dauphiné had a discreet performance and at the end of eight stages he took 36th place in the test which is considered decisive for the preparation of the Tour.

This performance led to the sowing doubts in the cycling environment about its effecteven doubts about the name that should lead the EF, but Carapaz announced that he is ready for a “nice adventure” with the team.

La Grande Boucle is the main goal it’s out of season for the tricolor and his squadronTherefore, the Americans surrounded the Olympic winner with all their artillery in his third appearance at the French competition, where he was already third in 2021.

Carapaz and EF prepared the Tour in Andorra, where they finished the high camp. “The whole team is confident. We have a plan and there’s still a long way to go,” said Nate Wilson, manager of EF, which can bet on the French circuit on Carapaz’s Grand Tours achievements.

“This race is the main goal I set for myself last October I was working on it too, I feel good physically. I’m very ready and above all I really want to start”, said the Ecuadorian cyclist.

Athletic director Jonathan Vaughters also pointed out the confidence of the American national team in the winner of the Olympic medalwith which they claim the podium in Paris.

“We know what he is capable of, and so do we we know that he reads the race and reacts very well. We will support him in his endeavors and also keep our options open when it comes to attacking the race,” Vaughters said.

It will be with Carapaza in France around the Colombians Rigoberto Urán and Esteban ChávezCosta Rican Andrei AmadorItalian Alberto BettiolBritish James ShawDanish magnus cut and American Neilson Powless.

“This is a team with a lot of experience. There are guys who have done several Grand Tours, who They have a long way to go and above all they have a lot of talent. I think it will be a team that will fulfill the goals we have set for ourselves. It will be a nice adventure with them,” said the Ecuadorian.

With “good preparation” and surrounded by a team that will strive to be the protagonist, Carapaz can find his best condition to fight for the podium and aim to improve on the third place on the podium he took in 2021 (D)