01 Sep 2022
Carapaz takes Vuelta breakaway win
Related riders
Richard Carapaz
Vuelta a Espana - Stage 12 » Salobreña › Peñas Blancas. Estepona, 192.7km
Richard Carapaz put in a perfectly timed late attack to secure victory from the breakaway on stage 12 at the Vuelta a Espana.
The Ecuadorian made his way into the day's break before launching the winning move with two kilometres to go on the steep final climb of Penas Blancas.
Pushing clear to win by nine seconds, Carapaz claimed his first Grand Tour stage for the team, and a first Vuelta stage win for the team since 2017.
The GC contenders arrived almost eight minutes later, with Carlos Rodriguez and Tao Geoghegan Hart showing well at the front on the final climb. Rodriguez retained fourth overall with an impressive ride, despite losing a handful of seconds in the final metres. The Spanish champion sits 4:06 back on race leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step - AlphaVinyl), who battled back from a mid-stage crash.
Geoghegan Hart now sits 10th overall after a pair of breakaway riders leapfrogged the Brit. For his efforts Carapaz jumped back up to 16th overall.
The Ecuadorian made his way into the day's break before launching the winning move with two kilometres to go on the steep final climb of Penas Blancas.
Pushing clear to win by nine seconds, Carapaz claimed his first Grand Tour stage for the team, and a first Vuelta stage win for the team since 2017.
The GC contenders arrived almost eight minutes later, with Carlos Rodriguez and Tao Geoghegan Hart showing well at the front on the final climb. Rodriguez retained fourth overall with an impressive ride, despite losing a handful of seconds in the final metres. The Spanish champion sits 4:06 back on race leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step - AlphaVinyl), who battled back from a mid-stage crash.
Geoghegan Hart now sits 10th overall after a pair of breakaway riders leapfrogged the Brit. For his efforts Carapaz jumped back up to 16th overall.
Reaction
- Richard Carapaz
"To be honest, I feel happiness, because we came here with a goal and the circumstances weren’t in our favour. We had the focus now on trying to win a stage, and I’m really happy with that.
"Bora were doing almost all the work and I waited for the last moment. I know, at 2km for the finish, that the last .,8 kilometres were so hard, and very regular. I knew I had one move left and I made the most out of it.
"I’m very happy. Mostly because the feelings I hoped for from the start are back. I have to enjoy it. I knew I wasn’t coming with the best condition after crashing at home. When we arrived in Spain after the Netherlands, we hit the mountains and it was a bit complicated for me. I moved on mentally to focus on a stage win. I knew I could do it in La Vuelta. Other years, I came 2nd, 3rd… It’s the first time, so I’m moved. There are still many stages to keep trying. We have to make the most of our current level."
- Richard Carapaz
"To be honest, I feel happiness, because we came here with a goal and the circumstances weren’t in our favour. We had the focus now on trying to win a stage, and I’m really happy with that.
"Bora were doing almost all the work and I waited for the last moment. I know, at 2km for the finish, that the last .,8 kilometres were so hard, and very regular. I knew I had one move left and I made the most out of it.
"I’m very happy. Mostly because the feelings I hoped for from the start are back. I have to enjoy it. I knew I wasn’t coming with the best condition after crashing at home. When we arrived in Spain after the Netherlands, we hit the mountains and it was a bit complicated for me. I moved on mentally to focus on a stage win. I knew I could do it in La Vuelta. Other years, I came 2nd, 3rd… It’s the first time, so I’m moved. There are still many stages to keep trying. We have to make the most of our current level."
