EF Education-EasyPost confirm Richard Carapaz' abandon from Tour de France following fractured kneecap diagnosis

There were good chances that bad news would emerge from the EF Education-EasyPost camp after today's opening stage of the Tour de France and the worst has happened. Richard Carapaz has abandoned the race following the diagnosis of a fractured kneecap.

The Ecuadorian had focused on the Tour as one of his main goals of the season and came in as team leader. He was involved in a crash with Enric Mas which has now led to the abandon of both, although the Olympic champion made it to the finish line. EF Education-EasyPost has lost all it's GC ambition as Esteban Chaves and Rigoberto Urán also shed time, but Neilson Powless has taken on the KOM jersey.