Richard Carapaz wants to win La Vuelta and sends warning shot: "We want to compete for the title and this was the first move"
Cycling
Richard Carapaz was one of the main protagonists of the 18th stage of the Vuelta a España 2024. EF Education-EasyPost set out to surprise and try to catch other favourites off guard. Whilst he didn't directly succeed, his attacks did distance Mikel Landa definitely out of the fight for the podium.
Ben O'Connor initially dropped back to the peloton. However, Mikel Landa lost 3:20 at the finish line and the EF Education-EasyPost leader now has one less rival for the podium in Madrid. After the finish, he spoke to the race microphones explaining the strategy and making clear his ambitions for the final three days of competition.
After attacking twice in the climb, differences were made and he linked up with two teammates that were in the breakaway of the day. "It was a pretty tough last climb, so we decided to take the lead. James Shaw and Owain Doull did a great job after falling behind. I'm very happy. I feel better every day, and we were able to make a difference. We want to compete for the title, and this was the first move".
"Fatigue is starting to play an important role. Every day counts, so we have to take every opportunity. It's been a tough Vuelta and there are still a few days left. I'm very confident in my performance in this third week, and we're going to try to maintain this line. Tomorrow will be very hard, but I'm looking forward to it."
Carapaz remains fourth overall, 1:46 behind red jersey O'Connor, 1:41 behind virtual leader Primoz Roglic and only 21 seconds behind Enric Mas and the podium. At the back he has a margin, 2:02 ahead of fifth place, David Gaudu, and as we mentioned before, he has taken out a tough nut to crack in Landa. There are still two mountain stages to go, especially a very hard one, and the final time trial on the last day of the three weeks.
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- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024
- Look at what Froome’s won since his last TdF, stop denying there is still more than possible one outcome to the future.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Bruyneel understands nothing about clean competition.Sweep21-12-2024
- Exactly. Remco won 3 WT races/stages last year compared to Pogocar's 19. Remco's single stage win in last years TdF earned him a meager 12 seconds over Pogocar who shellac'd him by 9 minutes in GC.Sweep21-12-2024
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024