For the Locomodora del Carchi this will be his seventh Vuelta a España, and he will race it with an attacking spirit that has never wavered and that almost unique ability to transform an ordinary day into a memorable moment. Richard Carapaz is preparing to return to the roads of the Spanish race with the enthusiasm of someone who knows he still has something to tell.

The Ecuadorian from EF Education-EasyPost will be at the start of his seventh Vuelta a España, a race that over the years has given him satisfaction and in which he managed to reach the final podium only in 2020.

This time Carapaz arrives in Spain with an even heavier calling card: that of a Tour de France raced as a protagonist, in which he managed to ignite the race with attacks, breakaways and long-range actions, confirming himself as one of the most spectacular riders in the peloton. And it is precisely that spirit he wants to bring to the Vuelta.

«It was a fantastic Tour that truly excited me, and I believe that everyone who was able to watch me was moved. Now we return to the Vuelta and I will try to do the same», he said on the eve of the start.

Words that perfectly explain what kind of Carapaz we will see in Spain: the one who doesn't wait, who doesn't like to race defensively and who prefers to seek the way to surprise his opponents.

«The Vuelta must be respected». Carapaz said, without openly declaring that he wants to target the general classification. In fact, his main objective seems to be hunting for stage victories, taking advantage of the numerous climbs and opportunities that the route will offer to attackers.

But it would be a mistake to think that the Ecuadorian has already given up on the general classification. Carapaz is one of those riders capable of changing plans during a race. If he finds himself in a good position after the first stages, he could decide to defend the general classification. If instead he loses ground, he could transform himself into the perfect hunter of stages and points for the best climber's jersey.

His versatility is precisely his strength.

«The truth is that anyway the Vuelta is a race and must be respected because it is a race. Obviously Pogacar aside, everything is open, no? It's a race where everyone aims for the podium», he explained.

The reference to the world champion is inevitable. Tadej Pogacar arrives at the Vuelta as the favorite and, on paper, seems to have something more than the competition. But behind him the fight could be much more uncertain. And it is precisely there that Carapaz wants to insert himself.

The big question is: which Carapaz will we see? The one capable of fighting for the general classification? The one who attacks from afar to win a stage? Or the one who sets his mind to conquering the best climber's jersey? Probably a bit of all of them.

The winner of the 2019 Giro d'Italia knows perfectly the dynamics of a three-week race. He knows when it's time to conserve energy and when instead you need to take risks. He knows how to read the road and above all knows how to take advantage of situations, and his Tour de France proved it once again.

When the race seemed already decided, Carapaz continued to seek opportunities, becoming one of the most dangerous men in breakaways. This is the type of rider that the Vuelta can exalt: a man capable of tackling a climb with the best, but also of building an action from afar and transforming it into a memorable day.

This is why the climbers' classification could also become a concrete objective. After fighting at the Tour for the polka dot jersey, Carapaz could seek to add another symbol to his palmares.

«We have many opportunities». The Vuelta, according to Carapaz, could have a completely different story compared to the Tour. «In the end I think we have a slightly different objective compared to the Tour, and I think we have many opportunities, and I'm sure I'll make the most of them». It's a statement that leaves all doors open.

Stage victories, general classification, best climber's jersey: Carapaz doesn't want to rule out anything. Also because the Vuelta is a race in which it takes just one day to completely change perspective.

A successful attack can elevate a rider who the day before seemed out of the game. A breakaway can turn into an opportunity to win a stage. A good day in the mountains could instead bring Carapaz back into the fight for the podium.

And the Ecuadorian wants to be ready for anything. «If we offer a good show, we will be happy», he concluded.

It's almost a statement of intent on his part, because Richard Carapaz doesn't need to promise a classification or a specific number of victories. His story already tells that, when the road begins to climb and the race enters the decisive phase, practically anything can happen.

At 33 years old, after a Tour lived as a protagonist, the Ecuadorian returns to the Vuelta for the seventh time. The fourth place in 2024 remains his best result, but this time Carapaz doesn't seem to want to start with an obsession over the classification.

He wants to race, he wants to attack and win stages. And if along the way he realizes he has the legs for something even bigger, no one would be surprised if he changed his objective once again.