Will Richard Carapaz return to INEOS? Rumours reinforce chances of a contract breaking
CyclingMonday, 31 August 2026 at 16:49
Richard Carapaz has a contract lasting until 2027 with EF Education-EasyPost, but the chances of it being fulfilled to the very end are seemingly low. The Ecuadorian is rumoured to be leaving the American team at the end of the current season, and Netcompany INEOS is one of the prime candidates to sign him.
Carapaz turned pro with Movistar back in 2017 and quickly developed into one of the best climbers in the world, winning the Giro d'Italia only two years later and an Olympic road race title then in 2021. Over the years the Ecuadorian has often struggled to follow the evolution that has marked the modern generation of climbers, but has in recent years returned to the top with several memorable performances and results.
His contract is, publicly speaking, ending at the end of 2027. Earlier this year, Gazzetta dello Sport reported that he would have likely extended it until 2028. As it stands, it does not appear that either date will be fulfilled.
Richard Carapaz at the 2026 Tour de France
Carapaz' move in the making for a while?
The EF rider's stay in the team has already been recently questioned by Johan Bruyneel, who claimed a move was close to being certain: “I'm going to say it here first. Maybe Carapaz, maybe very, very, very likely, will not be riding for EF next year. I can't say anything else, but the little bird told me that he's going somewhere else. Although he still has a contract. He still has a contract for 2027.”
Now, according to Het Laatste Nieuws, Carapaz could be on his way out of the American squad and there are three teams interested in signing him: NSN Cycling Team, Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and Netcompany INEOS.
Carapaz returning to INEOS?
Carapaz rode for INEOS from 2020 to 2021, where he achieved strong results but was not able to win a Grand Tour. Last winter, the British team paid several million euros to buy out the contract of Oscar Onley from Team Picnic PostNL. It is possible that the same scenario repeats itself.
For next season, INEOS have the likes of Onley, Kévin Vauquelin, Thymen Arensman and Carlos Rodríguez confirmed to have a contract, however a lot of the team remains undetermined.
Carapaz' value will have gone up this year following his recent results at the Tour de France, in which he won two stages in the final week and won the KOM classification - alongside an eighth place in the overall classification. Currently, he also sits fifth into the first rest day of the Vuelta a España.
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Rafionain-Glas31-08-2026 - reads like an ad for the filmmakers ...Ketterechts31-08-2026
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