The Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz confidently face the Tour de Francewho manages the EF team and knows that physical problems have prevented him from having the best possible preparation but is convinced that he can reach his best point of form during the Tour.
“The preparation is not perfect. Since May we have scheduled preparations for the Tour, but health problems have affected me and I have not been able to find the best legs. Now I’m trying to do it to have a good career”, indicated the third of the 2021 edition.
Carapaz assured that he will arrive at the start of Bilbao this Saturday “with many ambitions” and many goals, starting with making a good general, although he refused to set goals because everything depends on the moment where he is can be achieved in the career. .
“For now I will try not to waste too much time this first week, which is very difficult, different from other years, when it was more for the ‘sprinters’. Now he has a lot of difficulties”, studies the runner.
Returning to the podium will be the best goal and Carapaz knows that on his shoulders rests the responsibility of a whole team that will work to make it happen.
But he also aims at other goals, like getting the mountain jersey or winning stages, he or some of his teammates. “The responsibility is quite big on the teamI tried to prepare myself in the best way and have a positive result in Paris”, he commented.
The Ecuadorian knows that Danish Jonas Vingegaard and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar are the big favourites. “We are in the background, we are going to try to take advantage of the opportunities we have, as far as possible we try to find a good result and that will be important for us.”
Carapaz wants to quickly forget his bad performance in the last Dauphiné, where he had physical problems and could not compete for the general classification, but he hopes it will not happen again in the Tour.
“I have a good disposition to do a good Tour. Physically and mentally I’m very well and I hope to be lucky in the race and develop it as much as possible”, he assured.
The Ecuadorian refused to set specific goals and assured that “being in the Tour and among the favorites is already a prize, which allows you to start on the right foot.”
“Many riders are trying to get on the podium, we all have the idea of winning and the road will put everyone in their place,” said the EF cyclist.
Carapaz considers it very positive that the Colombian is in the squad Egan Bernalafter the severe accident he suffered last year that almost cost him his life. “It’s great to see him, that he’s here on the Tour. Few people can go, seeing him in the game is something that makes me happy,” he said.
Source: La Verdad
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