Carapaz: “This gives confidence for the rest of the summer”
Monday, June 14, 2021 at 09:01
Richard Carapaz has had a good dress rehearsal for the Tour de France, where he is one of the focal points of INEOS Grenadiers this summer. The climber put the Tour of Switzerland behind his name and became the first Ecuadorian on the honor roll of the highly regarded stage race.
Carapaz himself called his victory in Switzerland ‘very beautiful’. “We have worked hard for this. We are in great shape and have tested ourselves to see where we stand. To win here gives me and the team a lot of confidence. It’s a great race, and to win it only makes it even better. That this title is now on my honors list is really special. I am very happy.”
The Ecuadorian started the final stage over the Gotthard Pass to Andermatt with seventeen seconds ahead of number two Rigoberto Urán. “We didn’t have much of a lead, but I knew the feeling was good and the team was going really well. I have a lot of faith in the team and they in me. We knew the others would attack, but in the end I still had Eddie Dunbar with me and he had an answer to all attacks.”
photo: Color Vos
“I felt good myself, so I knew I could stay with it. When Rigo attacked, I was there, and in the final it really made a difference having another teammate with me. It makes you feel stronger and it was great to cross the line together.” In the end, the 2019 Giro winner came fifth on the finish, in the group of favorites that also includes Urán and the number three in the final standings, Jakob Fuglsang.
Carapaz: “It’s great to have the team around me, they were all very strong. In the end we had the situation under control from the start and we had another good day together. It feels good to be here. We have worked hard since last year and it is great that we achieved this result. It was one of my main goals, so getting out of here with the win gives me and the team confidence for the rest of the summer.”
