EF Education-EasyPost provide update on Carapaz after Il Lombardia crash

Carapaz was fighting for a top result when he lost control and hit a mountainside, forcing him to abandon the race. “Tough day for the team today,” EF Education-EasyPost wrote in a statement. “Richard Carapaz went down with 30 km to go at Il Lombardia. Richie suffered road rash but escaped bony injuries in his crash. Initial tests cleared him of concussion, but our medical team will continue to monitor him in the coming days. Join us in wishing Richie a speedy recovery. Mucha suerte, campeón.”

The crash marks another difficult moment in what has been a disrupted season for the Olympic champion. Carapaz was forced to miss the Tour de France earlier this year after battling a gastrointestinal infection that left him unable to train for several weeks. 

EF Education-EasyPost had initially planned for his return at the Vuelta, but setbacks in his recovery shifted his focus to the late-season goals of the World Championships and Il Lombardia. He managed to start the Worlds in Rwanda, but did not finish the race, and now, at Il Lombardia, he was again unable to reach the line in what was meant to be his final goal of the season.

After missing two Grand Tours and crashing out of his final race of the year, Richard Carapaz will hope next season brings a clean start and a chance to rediscover the form that has defined much of his career.