Richard Carapaz got his 2024 season off to the best possible start on Thursday, taking victory in the Ecuadorian national championship time-trial. Afterwards, the was lofty praise on the former Giro d'Italia winner from his team boss.
“He’s in a much better place than he was last year, that’s for sure. It’s interesting because as I’ve got to know him better, it’s become clearer that he’s a really, really talented rider and much more so than what’s already been shown," Jonathan Vaughters tells GCN of Carapaz. "He’s not a robot when it comes to training, and he definitely lives his life, which is probably the reason why when he wins something it’s in a very spectacular and fun way."
It's fair to say the Carapaz didn't have the best of years in 2023. Nevertheless, Vaughters and the the EF Education-EasyPost team have never lost faith in the diminutive climber.
“He’s not just one of these metronomic robots that we’re used to seeing riding GC in cycling. He’s not like that on the bike and he’s not like that off the bike," Vaughters explains. "I would say, yes, based on pure natural talent he’s probably the best rider we’ve had. I didn’t realise that when we hired him though. I thought that he was part of the Ineos construction machine but it turns out, that’s not where his zip comes from.”
“He just needs consistency, not getting sick or injured. If he can do that between now and July then he can have a great Tour de France," the American concludes. "He’s just got to keep following things up helping him to the best that he can. If he can have an absolutely clean run, then he’ll be good."
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