TURIN – All of Latin America is ecstatic in the name of Richard Carapaz. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion has a special relationship with Turin. And after having darted past us in pink on May 21st two years ago, yesterday he crowned the long yellow chase, giving himself a historic day not only for Ecuador but for the entire continent.
After the jersey conquered almost by mistake by Tadej Pogacar in Bologna, here comes a sought-after, desired and sweated-for one in the first arrival for fast wheels as well as the longest stage of this Tour (230.8 km). In the convoluted classification after the first two stages, there were four equal contenders for the symbol of primacy. In addition to the Slovenian ace there were Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Carapaz. The latter, with the anger still in the body for the exclusion from the Paris 2024 Games as outgoing championwas for many the number one candidate to wear the coveted jersey. And so it went with the fourteenth place in the stage won by Biniam Girmay.
“Richard, are you wearing your jersey?” we ask him a few meters after the sprint. He replies: “I think so”, but at the same time he signals to wait and throws down some gummy bears. Then the official announcement arrives and the party begins. “Good job, guys” the message from an euphoric Carapaz at the finish lineafter the confirmation that the mission was accomplished and before embracing the Portuguese champion Rui Costa, all the teammates who arrive one by one, architects of the choral enterprise.
The yellow plan
Marijn Van der Berg (13th) was the one who steered him out of the traffic in the hectic final, avoiding a fall at -2 km. While he was cooling down on the rollers, he relives those moments with us: «I tried to lead the sprint – he says – It was something new to be there in front with a ranked man behind you, but it was spectacular and I think Richard was super happy with what we have as a team.”
Then, he tells the yellow jersey plan: «In the morning, before leaving Piacenza, we started studying how to take it and we did everything we could to make it come true. Having the yellow jersey is super special. Obviously, everyone dreams of winning it themselves, but if one of your teammates wears it, you feel really close to it and it’s something crazy. We have been united as a team and now we hope to keep it for a while, Even though a very tough day awaits us right away, we will try.”
Irishman Ben Healy echoes him: «We did it, we went full throttle and we did it. My work was less tactical and more laborious because he arrived far from the finish line, but I think we will celebrate a bit now. It will be nice to see Richard dressed in yellow.
A village festival
EF Procycling sports director Charly Wegelius continues: «After Richie’s great performance in Bologna, we looked at the standings. We knew that in the event of a tie, the sum of the placings would be looked at. It was worth working for a goal of this caliber, but we knew that in such a tense sprint finish, anything could happen.”
And to those who whisper that Pogacar wanted to give up the shirt anyway, he replies: «We did our job without thinking about who wanted to leave her. Now let’s keep our feet on the ground and try to defend her, but the street will speak for itself.”
The fans at the fuchsia motorhome await their favourite and make a great racket. «We were in Verona when he triumphed at the 2019 Giro. Now we are here for this yellow party that we will continue in Pinerolo, cheering him at the start of the fourth stage», says Osvaldo, originally from Ambato, but now transplanted to Turin, and head of the Ecuadorian curve.
People gathered around the American team bus fans also coming from Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia all united in the celebration of the Locomotiva del Carchi. Next to the Costa Rican Ricardo and the Panamanian Argelia, Josè, an Ecuadorian who arrived from Varese, stands out, who acts as choir leader with his megaphone and then tells us. «I am originally from Milagro – he says – but I live here now and it’s fantastic to have seen him reach this historic jerseya. Now let’s hope he wins the Tour.”
The Yellow Dream
The team bus leaves, there’s not even the Netflix crew to immortalize this historic day because today they had the day off. However, Johannes Mansson, the team’s video and social media manager, assures us that the new yellow jersey is on its way and he is ready to film everything. The road is reopened and begins to be filled with cars again, the first drops of rain are falling, but then at 6.11pm a yellow dot appears in the distance and you can hear Latin music in the air.
The fans who remained in via Filadelfia, right in front of the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, are rewarded by the heavenly view. Richard smiles at so much affection and allows us a few jokes: «I’m enjoying this unique moment. I have always dreamed of wearing this shirt, it is truly special and you cannot understand how happy I am at this moment.”
Turin brings good luck
Turin gave him another magical day, to add to the drawer of memories: «It’s a beautiful coincidence. I passed right here as leader of the Giro in 2022 and now look, I’m here dressed in yellow».
He is the first South American to wear all three jerseys of the Grand Tours in his career, he smiles and replies: «I am very happy with this». And who knows, maybe he will return next year to the Piedmontese capital that speaks well of the cyclists of Ecuador. The stage and jersey combination of Jhonathan Narvaez (preferred to Carapaz for the upcoming Olympics) in the first stage of the last Giro had already demonstrated this. Turin, in fact, will also host the grand departure of the Vuelta in August 2025 as confirmed yesterday by several institutional fronts for an unprecedented trio.
On the warmth coming from every corner of Central and South America, he comments: «It’s something wonderful to represent these countries together and to see that cycling is growing there too. It’s a great thing and it makes me very happy.». The dedication? «It’s for my family, because only they know how many sacrifices I’ve made and how much time I spend away from home. When my children grow up they will be able to realize what I’ve done and these are the efforts that are worth making».
Johannes loads the bike onto the roof, the doors close, but the Latin American jubilation continues through the streets of Turin: «Carapaz-Carapaz-Carapaz». A refrain that will also overwhelm Pinerolo in another yellow embrace before the race leaves Italy.
