'This is my style': Carapaz promises to keep fighting after bold Vuelta attack

Carapaz insisted he has no intention of changing his attacking approach at the Vuelta a España after lighting up a brutal stage 12 with a long range move on the Alto de Velefique.

The EF Education-EasyPost leader attacked from the red jersey group with 36 kilometres remaining, accelerating from the back while Movistar continued to control the pace for race leader Enric Mas.

Carapaz was eventually brought back two kilometres later, but his move offered another reminder of the aggressive racing that has defined his career.

“I knew it was going to be a hard day,” Carapaz told Eurosport afterwards. “I think it was a good attack. I wanted to make the race harder.”

It was an ambitious move with the hardest part of the stage still to come. After five categorised climbs and more than 4,400 metres of elevation, the race finished above 2,100 metres at Calar Alto.

Carapaz said he had identified the stage as an opportunity to test both himself and his rivals rather than simply follow the wheels of the other general classification contenders.

“We decided to try it,” he said. “I knew there had to be a moment to go. This is my style, so that is what I showed.”

The Ecuadorian was forced onto the defensive later in the stage when Felix Gall attacked with 13 kilometres to go. Mas and Primož Roglič were able to respond immediately, while Carapaz initially found himself chasing behind.

He refused to concede, however, and fought his way back to Gall and Roglič with five kilometres remaining. By then Mas was already riding alone up the road after producing the decisive acceleration of the day.

Mas eventually gained 27 seconds on Gall, Roglič and Carapaz, strengthening his position in the red jersey and moving 1:45 clear of Roglič in the overall standings.

For Carapaz, the stage was proof that he is still willing to take risks in pursuit of a stronger position in the general classification.

“I tried everything today,” he said. “I kept fighting because I believed it was possible to stay there and even improve in the general classification.”

Despite Mas again proving the strongest of the main contenders on the final climb, Carapaz was satisfied with what he had been able to produce.

“I’m very happy with the result,” he said. “We will keep taking it day by day.”

Carapaz will not have to wait long for another opportunity. After Friday’s medium mountain stage to Loja, the Vuelta heads back into the high mountains on Saturday with a summit finish at Sierra de La Pandera, offering another obvious platform for the Ecuadorian to put his attacking instincts to use.