He is the leader of Ineos for Tour of Spain 2022 which starts this Friday. And a few hours before the start of the Spanish round, the bomb came. Richard Carapaz leaving Ineos at the end of this season to become a new member of EF Education-EasyPost signing a contract for the next three seasons. Undoubtedly, this is not the best news for the calmness of a team and a leader before facing a great tour. And more, after the announcement of his new team, Richard assured that it was not difficult for him to decide to pack.
“He is possibly the most successful cyclist Ecuador has produced. Richard has competed in the WorldTour since 2016. Last year he won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and claimed the overall title at the Tour de Suisse. As well as winning in the 2019 Giro de Italy, he was on the podium in all three grand tours. Richard is the current national time trial champion of Ecuador.” This is how he presented his new outfit in the official statement, where Richard showed his ambition.
“When you succeed at something, you want more. I’m one of those people who want more. There are still things I haven’t reached. I want to try to win another Grand Tour. One of my goals in life is to win the Tour de France. This is something I will fight for. I know it’s possible. I know what my potential is and what I can do, what I can achieve, and I’m fighting for this dream.” said the winner of the 2019 Giro d’Italiawho made it clear that one of his motivations was to be able to run the gala round and fight for victory as the sole leader of the ranks.
In 2022, Carapaz resigned from the French event to focus on this Vuelta a España, where he already finished second in 2020 behind Primoz Roglic.
“Every day I wake up with this dream that I have to try. When I started riding, we knew the big tours. I thought I could win the Giro d’Italia and I did and now I’m thinking about the Tour de France.”added Carapaz, forcefully.
In addition, Richard assured that the decision to join his new team was not difficult to make. “This is a team with a lot of ambition and a lot of things they want to achieve. I am a piece that can fit well in the team. I am motivated and I am looking for a team with the same goals as mine. The focus is on me and I want to try to win the Tour de France and I think it’s something we can achieve here together,” said Richard.
Carapaz went to the Tour de France in 2020 in an Ineos full of leaders, including Bernal, Thomas and Froome, and in 2021 he finished second to Thomas and achieved third place on the final podium afterwards Pogacar and Vingegaard. After his absence from the 2022 Tour, Carapaz has his sights set on the next event in France. But first, he will look to succeed in the 2022 Vuelta still wearing the colors of Ineos.
“The team wants to achieve its goals and that’s something very important for me. A team like this that wants to win a Grand Tour like me. It’s something we have to work hard on because it’s something that requires a lot of work, a lot of dedication. and that’s what this team has. I am motivated to join the team to fight for this dream and the team has confidence in me, so we are going to achieve everything we can together,” said Richard”, commented the 29-year-old rider.
Source: La Verdad
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