EF Education-EasyPost Grand Tour contender Richard Carapaz will not compete at the upcoming Back to Spain after being unable to train properly because of an infection that led to his withdrawal from the team for the Tour de France.
Though, the Ecuadorian rider, who finished on the podium of the Giro d’Italia earlier this year, is almost fully recovered and setting his goals on the late-season Italian classics and the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda.”After the illness I had, I had to stop several times as I couldn’t train for more than two or three days at a time,” Carapaz said. “now in Ecuador, I’m trying to get back to normal with training and continue moving forward with what we had planned. I’m almost fully recovered now.
“Now, the next goals we’ve set are the Italian classics, especially Il Lombardia, and also the World Championships in Rwanda.”
The World Championships elite men’s road race route in Kigali will feature 5,475 metres of climbing over 276.5 kilometres with Mount Kigali – a 5.9km climb that averages almost 7% – comes just outside 100km to go. It’s a rare Worlds course that caters to climbers.
“It’s a very special World Championship for me, where I have a big opportunity, and I want to prepare for it the best way possible. That’s why I came to Ecuador: to do some altitude training, regain motivation, and focus 100%. Certain factors play in our favor, and we want to make the most of them.”
Remco Evenepoel Crowned Champion of the 2024 Vuelta a España
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Remco Evenepoel (soudal Quick-Step) has secured his first Grand Tour victory, winning the 2024 Vuelta a España. The 24-year-old Belgian rider dominated the race, showcasing extraordinary climbing and time-trialing prowess. He finished with a commanding lead over Enric Mas (Movistar) and Cian Uijtdebroeks (DT Swiss).
The 79th edition of the Vuelta a España, which began in Barcelona on August 17th, 2024, and concluded in Madrid on September 8th, 2024, featured a challenging route with numerous mountain stages and demanding time trials.
Race Summary
Evenepoel established his dominance early in the race, winning the individual time trial on Stage 1 and consistently placing among the top contenders in the mountain stages. His strong performance in the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada solidified his lead, leaving his rivals struggling to keep pace.
Key Stages
- Stage 1 (Barcelona ITT): Remco Evenepoel takes the early lead with a dominant time trial performance. Cyclingnews stage 1 Results
- Stage 9 (Col d’Aubisque): Evenepoel demonstrates his climbing ability, finishing strongly and gaining time on key rivals. Cyclingnews Stage 9 Results
- Stage 21 (Madrid – Final Stage): evenepoel celebrates his overall victory with a ceremonial ride into Madrid. Cyclingnews Stage 21 Results
Final general Classification
The final general classification standings saw Evenepoel finish with a meaningful margin over his competitors.
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
- Enric Mas (Movistar)
- Cian Uijtdebroeks (DT Swiss)
- João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
- Jan Christen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Full General Classification on Cyclingnews
Evenepoel’s Reaction
“This is a dream come true,” Evenepoel said after crossing the finish line in Madrid. “I’ve worked so hard for this, and to finally achieve it is remarkable. I want to thank my team, my family, and all my supporters for believing in me.”
Looking Ahead
Evenepoel’s victory at the Vuelta a España marks a significant milestone in his career,establishing him as one of the leading Grand Tour contenders. His performance sets the stage for a possibly dominant career in cycling’s biggest races.Fans will be eagerly anticipating his participation in future Grand Tours,including the Tour de France.