Giro d'Italia | Richard Carapaz leads INEOS Grenadiers in search of GC glory

Having won the race last year, INEOS Grenadiers will be heading to the Giro d'Italia with a very well rounded-out team which will be fully focused in the goal of taking the pink jersey all the way into Verona.

Richard Carapaz comes in as team leader, looking to revalidate the win he's gotten the last time he raced here back in 2019. "...when I won the Giro d’Italia in 2019 it was something really special, above everything it was always a race that I wanted to compete in, so to win it was an incredible moment. It wasn’t just a significant win for me, it was also a significant win for my country. It had a big impact and started a new era in cycling for Ecuador. It also had an impact on me mentally, as it showed me that I had the ability to be a successful Grand Tour racer."

The Ecuadorian has finished second this year in the Volta a Catalunya, after a start to the season where crashes and a bout of Covid-19 put a dent onto his palmarès. Having switchd off since March, he's been preparing for a return to the Giro. In the mountains he will have the support of Richie Porte and Pavel Sivakov as main domestiques.

Porte is likely riding the final Grand Tour of his career, in the race that has saw him breakthrough as a stage racer: "I’m 37 now but at the end of the day it's just a number isn’t it... Going into this race, we’ve got a guy in Richard Carapaz who can win this race. It’s nice to go there with a rider you like, respect and hopefully help win the race. It’s so motivating.”

In the hilly and mountainous terrain they will count on the support of Grand Tour debutant Ben Tulett and Jhonatan Narváez, whilst the likes of Jonathan Castroviejo and Salvatore Puccio will bring invaluable experience in which INEOS thrive in frequently. Completing the squad will be Ben Swift who should be a crucial piece of in support of Carapaz in the flat stages.

Deputy Team Principal Rod Ellingworth has stated the confidence in the team to target the win in the overall classification: "This race means a lot to our team, and I have every confidence that we are going to be lining up in Budapest with the ability and intense desire to win, just as much as we have done in any other edition. We’re set to take the race on.”

INEOS Grenadiers for Giro d'Italia: Richard Carapaz, Salvatore Puccio, Jonathan Castroviejo, Pavel Sivakov, Jhonatan Narváez, Ben Swift, Richie Porte and Ben Tulett.