"There was a moment when we decided to go for it" - Richard Carapaz hits out at Vuelta favourites
Cycling
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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- Rota is an excellent rider to get in a break with because he always does his turnchapmanesque04-11-2026
- That 3000 extra that the Tour de France is built up in the flat stages
Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
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