It would be perfectly in line with the preparation for the Giro d’Italia. Instead Richard Carapaz, who won the pink jersey in 2019 and lost it on the penultimate day in 2022, he leaves Romandie and sets his sights on the Tour de France. He leaves Switzerland with a stage victory which means a lot and adds to the two successes at the start of the season in the national championship and then in a leg of the Tour Colombia.
The beneficial effect
On the arrival of Leysin, the Tokyo Olympic champion remained cold until 2.2 kilometers from the finish line, even letting Egan Bernal vent. And then, when he took off, no one behind was able to counter him. The surprising Lipowitz tried, who almost caught him, but couldn’t pass him.
«I knew that the stage was important – he said – and that I had many options. In the end I took the opportunity and tried until the finish line. I knew the roads and was waiting for the right time to leave. I’m very happy after this first part of the season in Europe, I think the team has shown what it’s made of. But the best part of the season is about to arrive.”
Immediately after the success, perhaps the happiest of all seemed to be sports director Charly Wegeliuswho followed him from the flagship.
«Richard – he says – had a really difficult start to the season, with some setbacks. But he trained well, we know that he is good, now he must continue like this. I think he did a great job, without giving up. He waited until the right moment and then left. Having a runner of his level around is motivating for the entire group».
The Tour towards Paris 2024
The choice of the Tour for once is not the result of the prestige of the French race, but of a program that should bring Carapaz back into great shape for the Paris challenge. The Olympic gold that he symbolically wears around his neck deserves to be defended. Also in 2021 he passed through the Tour and closed it in third place, behind Pogacar and Vingegaard and then in Japan he detached everyone, also resisting the time difference and complex federal issues which after the victory pushed him into an unexpected attack.
«In the end – he says when we meet him – I think I’m having a good season. I haven’t always had luck during this year’s races, but I think I’m very happy and I find this to be the most important thing. These three years as an Olympic champion have been a very beautiful period. There have been a lot of changes and I think for the better. I had a lot of fun being known by this title and for the same reason as 2021 this year is very important for me and for my country. I’m fine, I think I want to face the Olympics in the best way.”
The political squabbles
His participation in last year’s Tour lasted around 160 kilometres. Then the same fall that knocked out Enric Mas also knocked him out. 22 kilometers from the finish of the Bilbao stage, the Spaniard retired, while Richard reached the finish line and then decided not to start again. The x-rays had in fact highlighted a microfracture of the kneecap which made it inadvisable to persist.
«I’m also returning to France for this reason – he smiles – and I think I still have what it takes to have my say. The Olympics will be held the following week and we will repeat the Tokyo pattern, which worked very well for me. I have a chance and I want to take it. Compared to the problems of the last time, many things have also changed in Ecuador. New people have arrived in the federation and I believe we will have all the support we need for this adventure.”
The study of the routes
Returning briefly to the stage, Carapaz made it clear how important it is now to know the routes well for the attack to be effective. So, after taking advantage of Ineos’ work for Rodriguez, Richard moved at just the right time.
«I knew the climb – he says – I knew that at the end it was faster and I should have anticipated. Knowing the ending is often decisive. When I won the queen stage of the Tour Colombia in February, I knew I only had one opportunity and I made the best of it. I knew the climb, I had trained there. We had studied the profile, the altitude, the road surface. And in the end I managed to win. Here in Switzerland it was the same thing. But now it’s time to go home and roll up your sleeves. The Tour seems close, but it’s not that long away…”.
