Richard Carapaz concluded his adventure at the Vuelta a España with a fourth-place finish that, while not a podium, testifies to his fighting spirit and determination. An undisputed protagonist of this edition, he demonstrated that he is not only a great climber, but also a strategic and audacious rider.

From the early stages, Carapaz showcased his character, constantly attacking and seeking to gain ground on his rivals. After securing the King of the Mountains classification at the Tour de France (eighth overall), expectations were high. A podium finish and a stage victory seemed within his reach, but the Vuelta presented intense challenges.

«We tried several times during this stage, following the plan we set yesterday - Carapaz declared, who won the Giro in 2019 -. In the end, we had nothing to lose and much to gain. I believe the team worked perfectly and I'm happy about that».

Carapaz, leader of EF Education-EasyPost, displayed his "Latin fire," a term he used to describe his passion and aggressive racing approach. «We tried many attacks, we wanted to seize our opportunities», Carapaz explained, who at the Vuelta finished second in 2020 after a great battle with Roglic and fourth also in 2024.

A key element for the Ecuadorian was teamwork, particularly the support of the very young Colombian Juan Felipe Rodriguez Contreras, 22 years old. «Yesterday he launched me four or five times, he pulled and then came back to support me, it was truly impressive - Carapaz commented -. Juan Felipe did excellent work. He's a rider in great development and I'm very happy for him. I think he will become a great rider».

Although the fourth place is not what Carapaz hoped for, his satisfaction is palpable. «We did what we had to do, plain and simple». At 33 years old, Carapaz demonstrated once again that he is a leader capable of inspiring his teammates. The fourth-place finish at the Vuelta, behind Mas, Roglic and Gall, nonetheless represents a significant moment in his career as a great interpreter of stage races.