Richard Carapaz

Richard Carapaz has become one of the most successful Grand Tour riders of his generation, known for his explosive climbing, daring attacks and relentless spirit. The first Ecuadorian to win a Grand Tour, he combines tactical sharpness with raw mountain power and a fearless racing style. From winning the Giro d’Italia to claiming Olympic gold, Carapaz has brought pride to his nation and earned his place among cycling’s elite.

Born in 1993 in El Carmelo, Ecuador, and raised in the remote highlands of Carchi, Carapaz came from humble beginnings. He began cycling on a salvaged BMX with no tires or brakes, riding dirt roads between farm chores. Encouraged by teacher and former Olympian Juan Carlos Rosero, he joined a local club and quickly showed natural talent on the climbs.

He rose through the South American scene, becoming Pan-American U23 champion and winning the prestigious Vuelta de la Juventud in Colombia. In 2016, he moved to Spain to race with the Lizarte amateur team, catching the eye of Movistar, who offered him a pro contract for 2017. His transition from rural Ecuador to the European peloton was swift and successful.

Carapaz made his Grand Tour debut at the 2017 Vuelta a España. The following year, he won a stage and finished fourth overall in the 2018 Giro d’Italia - a clear signal of what was to come. In 2019, he seized control of the Giro with a bold attack on Stage 14 and rode into Verona in pink, becoming Ecuador’s first Grand Tour winner.

His success earned him a move to Team Ineos Grenadiers, where he nearly won the 2020 Vuelta a España, finishing second after a fierce duel with Primož Roglič. In 2021, he stood on the podium of the Tour de France - third overall behind Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard - becoming one of the few riders to podium in all three Grand Tours.

In 2022, Carapaz wore the maglia rosa deep into the Giro before finishing second, and then bounced back in the Vuelta with three stage wins and the King of the Mountains jersey. In 2024, riding for EF Education–EasyPost, he conquered the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France and took a memorable solo stage win. He followed that with third place overall at the 2025 Giro, proving he’s still at the top of his game.

Outside of Grand Tours, Carapaz has won multiple prestigious races. He claimed overall victory at the Tour de Suisse (2021), the Route d’Occitanie, and Vuelta a Asturias (twice). He’s also stood on the podium in Volta a Catalunya, Tour of Poland, and more.

His greatest one-day triumph came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), where he attacked late to win gold in the road race, delivering Ecuador only its second-ever Olympic gold. In doing so, Carapaz joined an exclusive club of riders with both a Grand Tour and Olympic title.

Carapaz has gone toe-to-toe with the best: Roglič, Pogačar, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard. His rivalry with Roglič in the 2020 Vuelta is remembered as one of the closest in recent memory.

Respected in the peloton for his fighting spirit, Carapaz races with heart and instinct. Whether animating mountain stages or clawing back time in GC battles, he’s seen as a rider who never gives up and thrives under pressure.

Carapaz lives between Andorra and his hometown Playa Alta in Ecuador. He is married to Tania Rosero and has two children. Despite international fame, he remains deeply connected to his roots - often returning home to support youth cycling and help on his family’s farm.

In Ecuador, he’s a national hero. Schools, murals and even stamps have been made in his honor. He is the face of Ecuadorian cycling and a source of inspiration across Latin America.

Carapaz rode for Movistar, Ineos Grenadiers, and now EF Education–EasyPost, where he signed a multi-year deal in 2023. His salary is reportedly in the €2–2.5 million per year range, placing him among the best-paid riders in the peloton.

• First Ecuadorian Grand Tour winner (Giro 2019)
• Podiumed in all three Grand Tours
• Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020)
• Wore the yellow jersey and won polka dot jersey in the Tour de France (2024)
• Won King of the Mountains and three stages in Vuelta (2022)
• Multiple national champion in both road race and time trial

Now 32, Carapaz is the undisputed GC leader at EF Education–EasyPost, with a contract through 2026. Whether chasing a second Grand Tour title, a Monument victory, or a repeat of Olympic gold, Carapaz remains one of the sport’s most determined and dangerous climbers. The locomotive from Carchi shows no sign of slowing down.