"We tried to save the day and above all to keep the loss to a minimum" - Richard Carapaz gets through unfavourable ITT to start 2024 Vuelta a Espana
Cycling
After finishing the time trial of the first stage of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, Richard Carapaz spoke to the press about his feelings on the bike, the difficulties due to the wind in Lisbon and his end goal in this Grand Tour.
The Ecuadorian from EF Education-EasyPost was first asked how the time trial went: "We know it's not our strong point but we tried to defend ourselves. I know that there are still a lot of riders who are going to be for the overall but well, it's a good reference for me and the truth is that as I say, we tried to save the day and above all to keep the loss to a minimum", answered the Olympic champion of Tokyo 2020.
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The windy weather conditions also played a key factor: "In the first part it was very good but then after kilometre four it was very windy and well, it was a little difficult to keep up. I am also very light and I was shaking from one side to the other but as I say, I think it was the first effort, I felt very good and as I said, I hope it is the minimum loss for our goal, "said the 31-year-old rider.
Finally, he was reminded of his statements saying that he had said he was coming to win the Vuelta, something he did not hesitate to reaffirm: "Yes, in the end it's our goal this year, we want to do very well and the truth is that I have the legs and I want to try."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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It’s 🇪🇨 Richard Carapaz’s turn! Another big name is starting his race. ¡Turno para 🇪🇨 @RichardCarapazM - @EFprocycling! Otro de los grandes nombres que toma la salida. #LaVuelta24
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