Richard Carapaz ranks among the 94 greatest cyclists in history on Prestigenlisten

Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz has entered the top 100 of the historical Prestigenlisten ranking, securing the 94th position among the greatest cyclists of all time. This achievement follows his second-place finish at the recent Clásica de San Sebastián, a performance that allowed him to surpass the legendary Octave Lapize in the prestigious list.

Carapaz, now 33 years old, accumulated 501 points on the Prestigenlist scale, with an additional 58 points for the current season. He edged out Octave Lapize, who had amassed 497 points. Lapize, a cyclist from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, achieved notable feats including a bronze medal at the 1908 London Olympics and winning the 1910 Tour de France before his death in World War I.

This year, 2026, marks Carapaz's most successful season since joining EF Education-EasyPost in 2023. His major accomplishments in 2026 occurred between June and August, encompassing the Tour de Suisse, the Tour de France, and the Clásica de San Sebastián. He secured second place in the Tour de Suisse, won two stages in the Tour de France while finishing eighth overall, claimed the Mountains Classification, and was awarded the Most Combative Rider prize.

The Clásica de San Sebastián saw Carapaz in a final sprint against Remco Evenepoel, ultimately finishing second. The Prestigenlisten ranking methodology aims to provide a balanced historical perspective, comparing cyclists across the last 150 years. It incorporates data from the first Milano-Torino classic in 1876, drawing on over 30,000 results from more than 4,000 cyclists, utilizing databases like ProCyclingStats and CyclingRanking.

Cyclists are awarded points based on the competition's prestige, their placement, any prizes received, and the year of the achievement. This system ensures that both contemporary and historical performances are equitably represented in the overall classification.