During a press conference held this Friday, January 17 in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, Richard Carapaz has revealed its racing program for the coming season. His two main objectives for the year will be Tour of Italy (May 9-June 1) and World Championships in Rwanda (September 28). On the other hand, his participation in Liège-Bastogne-Liège is still uncertain. He also took the opportunity to violently criticize the Ecuadorian Cycling federation, he who had very badly experienced his non-selection for the Olympic Games while he was the title holder.
Video – Richard Carapaz wore the yellow jersey on the Tour
The Giro for winning and the Tour for pleasure
The Ecuadorian runner will make his comeback during theStar of Bessèges (from February 5 to 9) before turning to the Girohe who won this event in 2019: “My first goal of the year will be the Giro d'Italia. I am very inspired, I am training hard for this big challenge. When I started cycling, the goal was not just to participate in a Giro d'Italia, but to win it. When it's me who lifts this beautiful trophy in Verona… I get goosebumps when I tell the story“. Even if it is not yet official, we should also find the Ecuadorian on the roads of Tour de France this summer:The Tour will be another objective, we will go a little more relaxed in search of stages and to return with the polka dot jersey“, he added.
No national championship, but the Worlds
If we will not see him try to win the national champion jersey, the latter calling into question the federation which unveiled the course only three days ago, Richard Carapaz intends to go and fight in Rwanda for the world champion jersey on a course that suits him well: “I hope the Federation will call me. There are still seven months left, the Federation has a lot of work to do this year, even if its management leaves something to be desired. We hope to have that conversation in September and have everything we need to be able to compete for a medal.”.
Criticism of his federation
Still very upset after his non-selection for the JO because according to him of “stupid rules“, he does not want Jhonatan Narvaez for having taken his place: “I have no differences with Narváez“, but rather to the Ecuadorian federation: “it must be a serious federation, there must be no favoritism, and new regulations must be drawn up. We have a lot of work to do in Ecuador, we are 10 or 12 years behind schedule. The Federation and the Ministry of Sports must encourage people to practice this sport“.
The program of Richard Carapaz :
February 5 to 9 – Star of Bessèges
08 mars – White Roads
March 10 to 16 – Tirreno-Adriatico
-February 19 to 23 – Algarve Tour
March 24 to 30 – Tour of Catalonia
27 avril – Liège-Bastogne-Liège
May 9 to June 1 – Tour of Italy
May 5 to July 27- Tour de France
