Richard Carapaz to contest 2026 Vuelta a España after Tour de France success

Richard Carapaz is set to tackle the 2026 Vuelta a España, marking his next major challenge after a standout performance in the 2026 Tour de France. Spanish journalist Javier Ares confirmed that the Ecuadorian cyclist, nicknamed 'The Locomotive of Carchi,' will aim for top positions in the Spanish Grand Tour.

The Vuelta a España 2026 is scheduled from August 22 to September 13, spanning 3,275 kilometers across 21 stages. The route will incorporate a mix of mountain stages, medium mountain stages, flat stages, and two individual time trials. Key mountain stages include climbs to Alto de Aitana, Calar Alto, Sierra de La Pandera, Peñas Blancas in Estepona, and Collado del Alguacil.

Carapaz enters the Vuelta with significant momentum, having achieved a memorable season in the Tour de France. There, he secured two stage victories, including the queen stage ending at Alpe d’Huez, claimed the mountains classification, and finished eighth overall. This performance elevated him 67 places in the UCI rankings, placing him among the world's top 30 cyclists.

With 26 professional wins, Carapaz has solidified his status as the most successful Latin American cyclist in terms of stage victories across the three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. A former Giro d'Italia champion (2019) and Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020), Carapaz continues to build his legacy in international cycling, having achieved success with teams like Movistar, Ineos, and EF Education-EasyPost.