From Sucumbíos to the Tour de France: Jefferson Cepeda's historic journey

Ecuador will be represented by two prominent cyclists, Richard Carapaz and Jefferson Cepeda, at the upcoming 113th edition of the Tour de France, one of the world's most prestigious cycling competitions. The race is scheduled to begin on July 4, 2026, with the Ecuadorian duo preparing to face formidable rivals including Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel.

The official team presentation took place in Barcelona, Spain, on July 2, 2026, where cyclists paraded before the iconic Sagrada Familia. During this event, Carapaz and Cepeda showcased their determination to proudly represent Ecuador on the global stage. Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda, hailing from El Playón de San Francisco in Sucumbíos, is making history as the third Ecuadorian to compete in the Tour de France. At 30 years old, he joined the Movistar Team in 2025 and will serve as a domestique for leader Cian Uijtdebroeks, while also having opportunities to contend for mountain stages.

Richard Carapaz, participating in his fifth Tour, is already considered a living legend in Ecuadorian cycling. Since his Grand Tour debut in the 2017 Vuelta a España, he has achieved remarkable milestones, including becoming the only Latin American cyclist to win Olympic road race gold. He has also stood on the podium in all three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. Carapaz, now 33, is aiming to reclaim the polka dot jersey as the best climber, a title he secured in the 2024 Tour de France, where he amassed 24 professional victories throughout his career.

The presence of Ecuadorian cyclists in major tours has become increasingly common over the past decade. Ecuador has transitioned from having a single representative to multiple riders competing in the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. Richard Carapaz's debut in the 2017 Vuelta a España marked the beginning of this era, followed by his historic victory in the 2019 Giro d'Italia, a significant achievement for Ecuadorian sports. While Carapaz enters his fifth Tour de France and Jhonatan Narváez debuted in 2025, Jefferson Cepeda's upcoming debut solidifies Ecuador's growing presence in top-tier professional cycling.