Carapaz confirms La Vuelta after his spectacular Tour de France

Richard Carapaz will be at the Vuelta a España 2026. The Ecuadorian has put an end to the doubts about his participation and has confirmed that he will start next August 22 in Monaco, although there is still an important question to resolve: whether EF Education-EasyPost will come with enough options for him to compete for the general classification or if Carapaz will again enjoy the freedom to seek stage wins and the mountain.

Carapaz confirms his return to La Vuelta

«Hey! See you at La Vuelta». With that brief message posted on Instagram, Richard Carapaz has confirmed his presence in the next edition of the Spanish round.

The news adds another important name to a Vuelta a España 2026 that features a particularly mountainous route, with more than 58,000 meters of total ascent, seven mountain stages, and finishes such as Aitana, Calar Alto, Sierra de la Pandera, Peñas Blancas, or the Collado del Alguacil. A terrain that, on paper, fits perfectly with the characteristics of the Ecuadorian.

For Carapaz, moreover, competing in Spain has a personal component. Before arriving at the WorldTour with Movistar, he went through the Lizarte team and it was precisely in Spain where he took some of the decisive steps that allowed him to make his way in European cycling.

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«Racing in Spain is always special, but sharing these moments with thousands of Ecuadorians who, like me, once crossed the ocean in search of a better future makes it even more special», he explained in the message with which he announced his participation.

Going for the general classification or with freedom to attack?

His presence is confirmed, but not his objective. Carapaz recently acknowledged in an interview with the Ecuadorian media Primicias that the initial plan of EF Education-EasyPost was to compete for the general classification, although the numerous injuries suffered within the team have complicated the possibility of surrounding him with a strong enough block.

«We wanted to go for a general classification, but we don't have a team because we have had many injuries», the Ecuadorian explained.

Therefore, EF still needs to decide whether Carapaz will face La Vuelta as a candidate for the general classification or with a strategy similar to that used in the Tour de France. With freedom to attack, seek stage victories, and enter the fight for the mountain classification.

This second option comes after a particularly successful Tour 2026. Carapaz won two stages and ended up claiming the mountain jersey, results that he himself defined as a «dream Tour».

«That jersey represents a large part of who I am: a climber, a very combative rider who needs to fight for points every day», he explained.