Richard Carapaz Holds Firm in Vuelta Stage 11 as He Eyes the Mountains

Richard Carapaz completed another solid day at the 2026 Vuelta a España without losing ground in the overall race. The Ecuadorian finished 49th in the 151.3-kilometer Stage 11 from Cartagena to Lorca, crossing the line in the same time as winner Matthew Brennan.

The stage ended in a sprint. Brennan, riding for Visma Lease a Bike, won in 3 hours, 17 minutes and 18 seconds at an average speed of 46.8 kilometers per hour. France’s Bryan Coquard finished second, while Belgium’s Jordi Meeus took third.

Carapaz remains fifth in the general classification. Enric Mas leads, with a 1-minute, 18-second advantage over Primož Roglič. Felix Gall is third, 1 minute and 39 seconds behind Mas. Carapaz sits 3 minutes and 26 seconds off the lead, but remains within two minutes of the podium and has Gall’s third-place position in his sights.

The race returns to the mountains in Stage 12, a 166.6-kilometer route from Vera to Calar Alto. The course includes 4,475 meters of climbing and five ascents: Alto del Cabecico, Alto de Cóbdar, Collado García, Alto de Velefique and Calar Alto.

The terrain could suit Carapaz. During the rest day, he said he still hoped to fight for a place on the podium. “It is an opportunity,” he said. The mountain stage offers him another chance to reduce the deficit and potentially pursue another stage victory.

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It is an opportunity.