Carapaz Soars To Giro Victory

Ecuadorian outsider shocks cycling world.

- Gregor Brown

Hands up who had Richard Carapaz on their Giro favourites shortlist at the start of May. Anybody nodding knowingly has clearly been paying close attention, because Movistar’s Ecuadorian revelation flew under the radar to score an accomplished overall victory at the Italian race last weekend, sealing the win in the final-stage Verona time trial.

Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) took a hard-fought second, while Primo Rogli (Jumbo-Visma), whom many thought would win comprehensively three weeks ago, salvaged his race to claw his way onto the podium, usurping Mikel Landa (Movistar).

His win made Carapaz — who was born at 2,900 metres above sea level in Ecuador’s mountainous north — the first rider from the South American nation to win a Grand Tour.