Richard Carapaz confirms participation in Vuelta a España

Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz has confirmed his participation in the 2026 Vuelta a España. This will mark his seventh appearance in the Spanish Grand Tour, where his best result was a second-place finish in the general classification in 2020.

Despite confirming his entry, Carapaz noted that his specific role in the race remains undecided. He expressed uncertainty regarding whether he will compete for the general classification or focus on stage wins and the mountain classification. This uncertainty stems from significant injuries within his team, EF Education-EasyPost, which has lost several riders to knee surgeries and crashes.

Additionally, Belgian rider Thibau Nys is monitoring his recovery from toxoplasmosis. While he has returned to intensive training, his participation in the Vuelta remains uncertain as his team evaluates if he is physically prepared for the high temperatures and three-week duration of the race.