OFFICIAL: Another Giro d’Italia contender bites the dust as former Maglia Rosa winner Richard Carapaz ruled out

The list of potential challengers to Jonas Vingegaard at the 2026 Giro d’Italia continues to shrink, with Richard Carapaz now officially ruled out of the race.

Following the earlier withdrawals of Joao Almeida and Mikel Landa, the confirmation from EF Education-EasyPost that their leader will not start the Giro adds another major name to an increasingly concerning pattern for the race’s general classification battle. A former winner of the Maglia Rosa and podium finisher at the Giro in 2025, Carapaz’s absence removes yet another distinct threat profile from the field.

Carapaz’s withdrawal is not the result of a crash or sudden illness, but a delayed recovery process that ultimately left him short of the level required to compete over three weeks in Italy. The Ecuadorian underwent surgery to remove a perineal cyst following the Volta a Catalunya, but the wound took longer than expected to heal, delaying his return to training and forcing a change in plans.

“For me, it's a complete disappointment, because the Giro is a race that I've always had a lot of affection for and looked forward to,” Carapaz said in an EF press release. “I always want to prepare for it in the best way. Every time I go to the Giro, it is a very special moment. Finding myself in this situation is frustrating because you put a lot of desire and time into it, but in the end I have to prioritize my health now and move forward. These are things you aren't prepared for. I will make the best of it and move forward.”

That decision, while unavoidable, ends any hope of seeing the former Maglia Rosa winner line up in May.

With the Giro no longer an option, Carapaz has turned his attention to the Tour de France, where he now aims to arrive in peak condition. “We are at the gates of the Tour. The start is less than 70 days away. I want to do super well, prepare for it, and try to get a good result.”

The shift in focus reflects both the timing of his recovery and the need to reset objectives rather than rush back into competition. “The performance team is right there with me,” he added. “Even when I couldn't ride my bike, we were working in the gym and the doctors were in contact the whole time. I really appreciate that a lot.”

“Going to the Giro like this wasn't going to be the best, so we re-evaluated our goals. If we couldn't go to the Giro, we were going to do a great preparation for the Tour,” added Carapaz. “That shows the character of this team in difficult moments. They have been a true support that has given me peace of mind to recover. Now, onward!”'

From a team perspective, the call to skip the Giro was framed as a necessary step to protect both Carapaz’s recovery and his long-term ambitions.

“Because the wound from the surgery was quite big, the recovery was longer than we'd originally predicted, so we decided the timeline to get him ready for the Giro was going to be too short,” explained team doctor Jon Greenwell. “Rather than have him go there, not 100 percent, and potentially have any complications, we thought it would be more sensible to have a good buildup toward the Tour de France and make sure he gets there in the absolute best shape.”

Carapaz’s absence adds to a growing list of late withdrawals that is steadily reshaping the competitive landscape of the Giro before it has even begun.

Where Almeida brought consistency and Landa climbing pedigree, Carapaz offered a proven Grand Tour pedigree of his own, including both overall victory and a recent podium finish. His removal further reduces the number of riders capable of challenging across a full three-week race.

Carapaz himself made clear that, while his focus has shifted, his ambitions remain high for the months ahead. “We have to be clear and keep our feet on the ground; there will be great riders at the Tour. I'll try to go with my best form and the best of our team to take them on.”

With each passing withdrawal, the pool of realistic contenders for the Maglia Rosa continues to narrow. For Vingegaard, the landscape is changing quickly. For the Giro, the question is how much depth remains when the race finally rolls out.