Richard Carapaz undergoes tonsilitis operation: "I had a lot of recurrent infections last year and that ended up being a problem"

Richard Carapaz had a very mixed 2022 season, however some of the bad moments were due to a tonsil infection. The Ecuadorian has decided to undergo an operation that will slow down his preparation for the season, but looks to prevent further issues in the medium and long-term.

“I've had this problem for about three years, a recurring problem of tonsillitis. When I was at training camp, I discussed with the team to have a tonsillectomy because I had a lot of recurrent infections last year and that ended up being a problem," Carapaz said in a recent interview.

Carapaz failed to finish the first three stage-races of his season however rode to second at the Volta a Catalunya after winning the decisive stage. The Giro d'Italia was his main goal and he rode with the pink jersey for a long time until the queen stage up to the Passo Fedaia where he could not sustain the attack of Jai Hindley.

He had lack of form in the opening week of the Vuelta a Espana and could not contest the GC once again, but soared in the second and third weeks to win three stages from the breakaway and the KOM classification. A surprising transfer to EF Education-EasyPost sees him in a different environment for the coming years.

“The surgery was successful, but there was a minor complication during recovery, where he was bleeding from the tonsils," team doctor Jon Greenwell said. "He has been off the bike for two and a half weeks and is now training normally again."

As for team manager Jonathan Vaughters, he reinstated his confidence in the Ecuadorian: "We may need to adjust some of his spring goals, but Richard is on track for his main goal. Together with Richard, we will get everything up and running again at a reasonable pace."