Richard Carapaz reaches Loja 1:47 outside the Vuelta a España podium

Richard Carapaz arrives in Loja, Granada, in fourth place at the 2026 Vuelta a España, just 1 minute and 47 seconds from the podium.

The Ecuadorian rider from EF Education-EasyPost produced a strong showing on Stage 12 between Vera and the Calar Alto Observatory. He finished ninth over 166.6 kilometers and climbed to fourth in the general classification, with an accumulated time of 40 hours, 35 minutes and 44 seconds.

Spain’s Enric Mas leads the race. Felix Gall holds third, 1:47 ahead of Carapaz. With nine stages still to race, the Ecuadorian’s immediate goal is to close that gap.

Stage 13 runs 192.8 kilometers from Almuñécar to Loja. It is the second-longest stage of this edition and features 3,404 meters of accumulated elevation gain. The medium-mountain route includes the first-category Alto de la Venta de la Cebada, the second-category Alto del Legionario and the second-category Puerto de Granada.

After the final climb, riders face 37 kilometers of descending and flat roads. A short rise near the finish could suit a rider able to produce a late attack. The stage is scheduled to start at 5:20 a.m. Ecuador time and finish at about 10:30 a.m., with the intermediate sprint at Tocón after 145 kilometers. Loja, a town of 20,846 people that combines historic heritage and nature, has previously hosted a race start and will now serve as a Vuelta finish for the first time. Eight competitive stages will follow, including two mountain stages, a 32.1-kilometer individual time trial and a hilly stage finishing uphill.