Richard Carapaz eyes Vuelta a Espana podium as EF Education-EasyPost confirm a rather inexperienced selection
CyclingWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 06:00
Unlike in the past, EF Education-EasyPost are no longer among last teams to announce their Grand Tour selections! The American team confirmed its eight riders for the 2026 Vuelta a Espana with all attention focused on their GC ambition; Richard Carapaz.
Carapaz aims for podium!
The 2026 season of EF Education-EasyPost has not been going great, mostly due to the incredible amount of bad luck with injuries and illness that not even their biggest stars Richard Carapaz and Ben Healy were not spared of.
Unlike the Irishman though, Carapaz was able to bounce back just in time for the Tour de France where he claimed the crown for King of Mountains, Supercombativity award, two stage wins, and 8th place overall.
Read also
Heading to Vuelta a Espana, the Ecuadorian does not set small goals for himself as he looks to further improve his 2026 GC record. Tadej Pogacar emerges to be an unsurpassable obstacle in chase for overall victory; but podium battle is as open as ever. And Carapaz aims very high.
"We're aiming for the general classification," Carapaz declares ambitiously. "This is important to me because it's a different approach compared to the Tour. I believe we have a great opportunity in the Vuelta a España; we know what the race is like and we're familiar with most of the route. Ultimately, this is what motivates me the most."
Richard Carapaz at the 2026 Tour de France
"It's a very mountainous race and it will be difficult, but difficult in the sense that we can actually contend for the general classification. Seeing myself fighting up there for three weeks will be important. It's a mentality I've always had, and it motivates me a lot for this Vuelta."
Besides Carapaz, Vincenzo Albanese will be EF's card for bunch finishes - especially in harder hilly stages. Young talent Markel Beloki will be a key helper in the mountains while looking for his own opportunity, and the same applies to Georg Steinhauser. Finally, the GrandTour debut of recently promoted Colombian climber Juan Felipe Rodriguez will be interesting to follow.
EF Education-EasyPost for 2026 Vuelta a España:
| Rider |
| Richard Carapaz |
| Vincenzo Albanese |
| Markel Beloki |
| Alastair MacKellar |
| Darren Rafferty |
| James Shaw |
| Georg Steinhauser |
| Juan Felipe Rodriguez |
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- We also have to read "between the lines. " One of his clauses is "greater control over his race programme." That tells me a lot. Pogi has said on many occasions, that he prefers one day races over stage races. In one day races you give it all you've got, especially if it's a famous one day race like the Monuments or other historical classics, where all the best cyclists show up. No thinkig and calculating about the race that happened yesterday and the race that will be tomorrow or the next day, like in stage races. It's that one day, when you leave your heart on the road. That's what Pogi loves. So my take is: When Pogi will win another 2 to 3 TdF it will be over for him. That's where his clause "greater control over his race programme" will be impemented. That's why he's preparing Del Toro, to take over the Giro, Tour and Vuelta races, and Pogi will concentrate only on one day races in his "old age." He will put on more muscle and weight and race most of the classics. I can hardly wait those days to come!!!PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Yeah, exactly... you just can't handle the truth. I just don't understand why you hate His Royal Infalible Pogness???PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- One more thing they talked about: Carera did not disclose all the details, while Benson cites the possibility of discussions about copyrights and the use of Pogačar's own advertising material, used to promote his own brand and products. The Tadej Pogačar official logo is “T” and “P” - identifying him. The MET helmets already use this logo. All I can say; We are watcing a legend being "born" and his legacy will go on for decades.PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Die for your country? What nonsense Raf! I understand that that is a quote from Wilfred Owens anti war poem but you have used it out of context here.Cyclingsbestfan19-08-2026
- seems like he has no plans to retire early. that probably ends all the potential burnout rumors after last year‘s tdf.Ketterechts19-08-2026
- What kind of argument is that?????? He went as deep for the Tour last year and still contemplated doing the Vuelta before Worlds He’s never skipped MSR for having gone deep a previous year. Please provide some back up to this claim, also about the criticism aside from some irrelevant posters like us.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- And yet, some people go out of their way to put him down. Don’t need to remind of some of the comments before he came out of his dry patch.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- Oh boy, don’t push that finger too precisely.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- It doesn’t matter, there are people like that in both worlds. Funny how nobody mentioned Tadej, who put « family » loyalty over country. Imagine (would be) soldiers would do the same, well, some did, were called traitors BUT they did change the course of history by prematurely ending stupid wars and practically NOBODY 20-30y later dares criticisethem the way their leaders back then did. You should represent your country, for whatever, IF you believe it’s for the RIGHT reasons and the balance of reasons for/against is ok for you PERSONALLY. Jonas is no different to Tadej in that respect, both have their reasons. Besides, as today again shows very well, NEVER confuse country and (temporary) leaders no matter how much people try to pressure you with guilt. In that respect, Belgium’s federation and all its demands on riders is a very interesting case to review.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
- Can’t disagree there, no matter how much I appreciate Prim. At some point you have to make way for new generations, in fact, you should be helping not hindering.Jumpyjohn19-08-2026
Loading
Write a comment