"It is going to be a trial by fire" - Richard Carapaz throws himself back into the deep end in Switzerland

Richard Carapaz's 2026 plans came crashing down seven weeks ago as the Ecuadorian star had to undergo surgery, ruling him out of the Giro d'Italia and forcing the EF Education-EasyPost off the bike for over three weeks as he recovered.

Carapaz had built the first half of his season around the Corsa Rosa, but had to undergo surgery on April 29th to remove a perineal cyst, thus ruling him out of the grand tour. Initially, it was hoped he could recover before the race, but the wound did not heal in time and he switched focus.

Recovering at home in a stint that saw him take 24 days before returning to training on the bike, Carapaz took advantage of the new situation to start a new training block and target the Tour de France.

“Right now, I feel good on the bike,” Carapaz said in a team statement. “I’ve been able to spend a good amount of time at home, recover in the best possible way and train well. Above all, I’ve been in one place the whole time, which has allowed me to put together a new training block and find a stable rhythm again.”

Now, he'll take on GP Gippingen before the Tour de Suisse as he seeks to return to France in top form. When testing the legs in training, the eight-time grand tour stage winner liked what he felt and is excited to restart his season with new - big - aspirations, but is aware that he's going into deep water.

“I’ve been able to train at sea level and test the new sensations, and honestly, they have been very, very good. The GP Gippingen is a circuit I’ve done before. I hope everything goes well.”

He added: “The Tour de Suisse is a race that I’m always quite fond of. I’ve prepared for it in the best possible way, and also with an eye on the Tour. It is going to be a trial by fire. I’m always highly motivated for the Tour. I have big aspirations.”

Carapaz is set to return to the Tour de France this summer after a memorable 2024 performance. In that edition, he won the KOM classification, held the yellow jersey, won a stage and even took the award for most combative rider.