Richard Carapaz, the talented cyclist from Ecuador, will be unable to defend his King of the Mountains jersey at the upcoming Tour de France due to health issues. The 32-year-old athlete experienced severe abdominal pain and a high fever while training at home, prompting him to seek medical attention. After undergoing extensive tests, he was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection and is currently on antibiotics and medication to manage his condition.
Both Carapaz’s team, EF Education-EasyPost, and the Ecuador medical team have advised against traveling and competing at this moment, resulting in his withdrawal from the prestigious race. EF Pro Cycling’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Vaughters, expressed his disappointment on behalf of the team, highlighting Carapaz’s impressive form following his podium finish at the Giro d’Italia.
Vaughters noted, “He came out of the Giro with amazing form and was setting career-high power numbers in training… The timing really couldn’t be worse.” Despite this setback, he believes that Carapaz’s championship spirit will drive him to return even stronger.
Carapaz himself took to social media to express his sadness over the situation but emphasized the importance of health, thanking fans for their support as he wished his team good luck at the Tour.
His 2022 performance at the Tour de France was notable, where he secured the King of the Mountains classification and achieved a solo victory in stage 17, marking the completion of his Grand Tour stage win set despite facing challenges throughout the race.
Looking ahead, the prognosis for Carapaz is optimistic. After his recovery, he has his sights set on participating in the Vuelta a España, which begins on August 23 in Piemonte, Italy. Carapaz previously achieved second overall in the Vuelta in 2020 and had a successful outing in 2022, with three stage wins and also capturing the King of the Mountains jersey.
This situation serves as a reminder of the resilience and passion that athletes embody, and fans can remain hopeful for Carapaz’s return to competitive cycling later in the year.