24 Jul 2021
Carapaz charges to road race gold
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Richard Carapaz
Men's Olympic road race: Musashinonomori Park › Fuji International Speedway, 234km.
Richard Carapaz stormed to gold with a tremendous solo attack in the men’s road race to make Olympic Games history for Ecuador.
The 28-year-old’s expertly-timed move in the closing stages of the race saw him go clear of breakaway companion Brandon McNulty (USA), before holding off the advances of an elite chase group.
The 28-year-old’s expertly-timed move in the closing stages of the race saw him go clear of breakaway companion Brandon McNulty (USA), before holding off the advances of an elite chase group.
Carapaz's victory marks Ecuador’s first-ever Olympic medal in cycling and only the third medal from any sport in the country’s history. Wout van Aert (Belgium) and Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) rounded out the podium at the Fuji International Speedway.
Carapaz had initially escaped alongside McNulty (USA) with 26 kilometres remaining of the brutal 234km course, made more difficult by searing heat and humidity.
Carapaz had initially escaped alongside McNulty (USA) with 26 kilometres remaining of the brutal 234km course, made more difficult by searing heat and humidity.
The pair worked well together to establish a lead that topped out at around 40 seconds and forced those behind to work to bring them back. Behind, Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland) and Adam Yates (Great Britain) were part of an elite chase group that formed on the Mikuni pass that tried, but were initially unable to reel in the pair.
But as the pursuit became more organised, the gap started to drop, leading Carapaz to attack McNulty around five kilometres from the finish, racing to the line solo to make Ecuadorian history.
Adam Yates finished ninth for Team GB and Kwiatkowski (Poland) was 11th as the chase group sprinted for the remaining medals on the line.
But as the pursuit became more organised, the gap started to drop, leading Carapaz to attack McNulty around five kilometres from the finish, racing to the line solo to make Ecuadorian history.
Adam Yates finished ninth for Team GB and Kwiatkowski (Poland) was 11th as the chase group sprinted for the remaining medals on the line.
Richard Carapaz
Even when I crossed the line I couldn’t believe it. I think it’s the happiest moment of my life."
Reaction
Richard Carapaz
"I went to the Tour with the podium on my mind. I made it and I came here with the feeling that I could achieve something special. I won a gold medal and even when I crossed the line I couldn’t believe it. I think it’s the happiest moment of my life."
“I think McNulty was a great companion in the breakaway, because he’s very, very good on even terrain. We were able to maintain that advantage that we had, 20 or 30 seconds that separated us from the rest. And then of course, coming here down to the circuit, I simply continued on that level and that’s how I won.”
“To my country, the truth is you have to believe, no? I have worked so hard to get here. I’m here, I’m enjoying — it’s something so big for me. And simply 'thank you' for the support which truthfully really helped me get here.”
Richard Carapaz
"I went to the Tour with the podium on my mind. I made it and I came here with the feeling that I could achieve something special. I won a gold medal and even when I crossed the line I couldn’t believe it. I think it’s the happiest moment of my life."
“I think McNulty was a great companion in the breakaway, because he’s very, very good on even terrain. We were able to maintain that advantage that we had, 20 or 30 seconds that separated us from the rest. And then of course, coming here down to the circuit, I simply continued on that level and that’s how I won.”
“To my country, the truth is you have to believe, no? I have worked so hard to get here. I’m here, I’m enjoying — it’s something so big for me. And simply 'thank you' for the support which truthfully really helped me get here.”
