"There was a moment when we decided to go for it" - Richard Carapaz hits out at Vuelta favourites
CyclingThursday, 03 September 2026 at 23:00
Richard Carapaz once again played his cards from range on stage 12 of the Vuelta a España 2026. The Ecuadorian from EF Education-EasyPost launched an attack on the penultimate climb of the day, aiming to catch the other contenders off guard and see who would respond.
The move did not yield the result he wanted, but Carapaz held firm with the best to Calar Alto and finished ninth, on the same time as Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall.
Up front, Enric Mas underlined his strength again. The Movistar Team leader attacked with 10 kilometres to go and carved out another 27 seconds over his main rivals, while Carapaz stayed with Primoz Roglic and Enric Mas
After the stage, the Ecuadorian explained that he wanted to test from distance to gauge the legs of the other GC hopefuls. “I think today was a very hard day and I wanted to try from a bit further out, see who would respond,” said Carapaz.
The EF Education-EasyPost rider felt the move achieved its aim, although he later had to pay for the effort on the long final ascent to Calar Alto. “I think it was a good move, we tried to make the race a bit harder,” he noted.
Enric Mas at the Vuelta a España 2026
The strategy allowed him to assess his rivals’ strength before the decisive climb. However, the day’s severity ultimately told, and Carapaz had to focus on hanging on when the race reached its critical phase.
Carapaz knew the last climb could work against him after his earlier effort. So when gaps began to open among the favourites, he chose to settle into his own pace.
“I tried to hold on as much as possible here on the final climb,” he explained. The Ecuadorian was clear that the last section could suit him if he paced his effort well.
“I knew it was very steady, especially in the final part, which was a bit easier. But well, I think I’m very happy and we’re taking it day by day.”
The outcome was positive within his plan. Carapaz crossed the line in ninth place, on the same time as Roglic and Gall, though he lost 27 seconds to Enric Mas.
Richard Carapaz stays true to his style
When reminded of the “glory or the ambulance” mantra that fits his racing approach, Carapaz did not hesitate to admit that the long-range attack reflects his way of understanding competition.
“Yes, I think there was a moment when we decided to go for it, and I think it’s a bit my style,” he said.
The Ecuadorian again showed he is not content to wait for the final kilometres of major mountain stages. His move on the penultimate climb aimed to disrupt the script and force the other favourites to react.
He did not open a decisive gap, but he did reach Calar Alto alongside the main GC contenders.
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On the final climb, there was a moment when Carapaz seemed to lose contact with the favourites. However, the 2019 Tour de France winner did not give in and kept searching for options.
“At some point it looked like you were slipping back a bit, but as always, you kept fighting, believing it was possible to hold on and even improve in the general classification,” he was told after the finish.
His reply summed up the strategy he followed in the closing kilometres: “Well, on the last climb I knew I had to find my pace. I stuck to my pace, my pace, and well, I got here with the best.”
Carapaz left Calar Alto without losing contact with Roglic and Gall, although Enric Mas opened gaps again. True to his style, the Ecuadorian had tried to change the race long before the finish. It was not enough to surprise the leader, but it made clear he will keep hunting opportunities in the coming days.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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Rafionain-Glas03-09-2026 - Love him or hate him, Remco in the rainbow jersey is a site to behold. Without him, there would be an even bigger gap between Tadej and the rest of the peloton. Do I want to see him in the rainbow jersey on both the road and TT? Absolutely. I respect he may not be to other people’s taste, but he is pure entertainment for me. Gotta love him.anonymouscyclist03-09-2026
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- Mas needs to keep building time so Primoz doesn't snatch it away in the TT. Mas has been so close to winning the Vuelta in the past but has always had some bad luck, I hope he can pull it off.awp03-09-2026
- Have had no respect for PR since he selfishly attacked his own team mate (kuss) In 23, after Sepp helped him win giro that year (as well as many other races)Crashjames03-09-2026
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Davide03-09-2026 - Now I have... great race.bike-anarkist03-09-2026
- Come on, put some effort in to the prediction please. Simply predicting Santiago Buitraigo for stage 12 is an easy way to avoid predicting what will happen with the GC. If you do think a breakaway will win, at least also mention what will happen in the favourites group, as that is a race of its ownRafionain-Glas02-09-2026
- There is a saying in motor sport "In order to finish 1st first you have to finish"BevEvans02-09-2026
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