Sports director Juan Manuel Gárate is optimistic about Richard Carapaz riding La Vuelta a España in August

Tour de France was over for Richard Carapaz after just one stage. The leader of EF Education-EasyPost, who crashed in the opening stage, still finished the stage, but did so with a fracture in his kneecap. The question now is when Carapaz can pin a back number again. Sports director Juan Manuel Gárate is optimistic about La Vuelta a España.

Carapaz has been meticulously preparing for the Tour de France in recent months, but things already went wrong for the Ecuadorian in the first stage. "It was a big blow for Richard, as he had a great run-up to the Tour. A run-up of many months, and then your Tour dream will end in a few hours…," sketches former rider Gárate in an interview with the EFE news agency.

"However, Richard is a very determined rider, one with character. He has been in similar situations in his career. He immediately spoke about his upcoming goals. He will undergo another medical examination in his home country of Ecuador, and we are waiting for the results. But with the information we now have, he may be able to participate in the Vuelta," Gárate is optimistic about Carapaz's Vuelta chances.