Richard Carapaz ruled out of 2025 Tour de France

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), the reigning mountains classification champion, will miss the 2025 Tour de France due to a gastrointestinal infection that left him with severe abdominal pain and high fever last week while training at home in Ecuador.

"We're all gutted for Richard," said Jonathan Vaughters, founder and CEO of EF Pro Cycling. “He came out of the Giro with amazing form and was setting career-high power numbers in training. He sacrificed a lot to get to that level, so the timing really couldn’t be worse." 

"We know how much the Tour means to him, so to lose him this close to the race is a real blow. He’s a champion in every sense, and knowing him, I have no doubt this setback will only motivate him to come back stronger.”

Carapaz, who recently finished third at the Giro d'Italia in May and took a stage win along the way, will remain in his home country after doctors advised against long-haul travel and competition. Doctors have prescribed antibiotics and symptom management medication for Carapaz, with his full focus now set on recovery, with the prognosis for a full and quick recovery set.

The Ecuadorian is now expected to take some time off to recover before resuming training, and once he has fully recovered, he will set his sights on trying to win the Vuelta a España, according to EF Education EasyPost's official statement.

Carapaz also took to social media to announce the bitter news. "With great sadness, I have to tell you that a gastrointestinal infection is forcing me to miss the Tour de France. It's not the best news, but health always comes first. Thank you for all your messages and support. Good luck [to his team]."