13 Jun 2021
Carapaz wins Tour de Suisse
Related riders
Richard Carapaz
Tour De Suisse - Stage 8 » Andermatt › Andermatt, 159.5km
Richard Carapaz and the INEOS Grenadiers stood up to one final test to claim an impressive overall victory at the Tour de Suisse.
The Ecuadorian won his first stage race of the year by 17 seconds after fending off late attacks from closest rival Rigoberto Uran on a mountainous final stage.
The Grenadiers had ridden hard as a unit to keep the race together during a fractured opening to the stage, and when the big attacks came on the cobbled Gotthardpass, Carapaz looked comfortable as he shut down each move.
Eddie Dunbar put in a towering performance in support of his teammate in the closing stages, setting a big tempo to pull back attackers, before re-joining to help on the descent and the final run-in. The Young Rider jersey, fourth place on the stage and 12th overall was a great reward for the Irishman.
The entire team stepped up on the final day, with Luke Rowe and Michal Golas returning to the front following a brutal early pace. Rowe also helped Pavel Sivakov re-enter the bunch, with the Russian putting in a big turn on the front. Seb Henao took it up on the final climb before Rohan Dennis put in another characteristically impressive stint on the front before the attacks began.
The Ecuadorian won his first stage race of the year by 17 seconds after fending off late attacks from closest rival Rigoberto Uran on a mountainous final stage.
The Grenadiers had ridden hard as a unit to keep the race together during a fractured opening to the stage, and when the big attacks came on the cobbled Gotthardpass, Carapaz looked comfortable as he shut down each move.
Eddie Dunbar put in a towering performance in support of his teammate in the closing stages, setting a big tempo to pull back attackers, before re-joining to help on the descent and the final run-in. The Young Rider jersey, fourth place on the stage and 12th overall was a great reward for the Irishman.
The entire team stepped up on the final day, with Luke Rowe and Michal Golas returning to the front following a brutal early pace. Rowe also helped Pavel Sivakov re-enter the bunch, with the Russian putting in a big turn on the front. Seb Henao took it up on the final climb before Rohan Dennis put in another characteristically impressive stint on the front before the attacks began.
Reaction
- Richard Carapaz
"In the end it’s a really beautiful victory, we’ve worked really hard for it, we’ve been in great form, we’ve been testing ourselves to see where we’re all at, and to win here in Switzerland it gives me a lot of confidence and the team as well. It’s a beautiful race, and to win it makes it all the better, and to have this title on my palmares is something really special, I’m really happy.
"At the start of the day we didn’t have many seconds ahead of Rigo, but I knew that I was feeling good and that the team are going really well, I have a lot of trust in them and them in me, and we knew that they were going to attack, but in the end I had Eddie with me and he was responding to all the attacks, and I was feeling good so I knew I could be there with them. When Rigo attacked I was there, and during the final it was really important to have a teammate with me, it makes you feel stronger and it was great to arrive to the line together.
"It’s been great having the team around me, how strong they’ve all been, in the end we had the situation under control right from the start, and in the end we had a good day together.
"It’s good to come here, we’ve been working hard since last year and it’s great to get this result. It’s been one of my main objectives, so to come away with the win gives me confidence and the team as well ahead of the rest of the summer."
- Eddie Dunbar
"The team rode really super today. Even at the start we controlled it very well. Then we had Luke and Golas come back and really control things in the valley. Then a lot of other teams were actually a bit panicked about the breakaway today, so they helped us in the valley as they were worried about the GC position – so that saved a lot of energy for us. We got to the climb and we rode our tempo – in the end it was a very strong tempo.
"We expected the favourites to attack and they did. Thankfully we were able to respond and bring it home. I think Richie is a worthy winner of this race. He showed all week he’s the strongest rider here and he proved it again today. It’s a great day for the team again."
- Richard Carapaz
"In the end it’s a really beautiful victory, we’ve worked really hard for it, we’ve been in great form, we’ve been testing ourselves to see where we’re all at, and to win here in Switzerland it gives me a lot of confidence and the team as well. It’s a beautiful race, and to win it makes it all the better, and to have this title on my palmares is something really special, I’m really happy.
"At the start of the day we didn’t have many seconds ahead of Rigo, but I knew that I was feeling good and that the team are going really well, I have a lot of trust in them and them in me, and we knew that they were going to attack, but in the end I had Eddie with me and he was responding to all the attacks, and I was feeling good so I knew I could be there with them. When Rigo attacked I was there, and during the final it was really important to have a teammate with me, it makes you feel stronger and it was great to arrive to the line together.
"It’s been great having the team around me, how strong they’ve all been, in the end we had the situation under control right from the start, and in the end we had a good day together.
"It’s good to come here, we’ve been working hard since last year and it’s great to get this result. It’s been one of my main objectives, so to come away with the win gives me confidence and the team as well ahead of the rest of the summer."
- Eddie Dunbar
"The team rode really super today. Even at the start we controlled it very well. Then we had Luke and Golas come back and really control things in the valley. Then a lot of other teams were actually a bit panicked about the breakaway today, so they helped us in the valley as they were worried about the GC position – so that saved a lot of energy for us. We got to the climb and we rode our tempo – in the end it was a very strong tempo.
"We expected the favourites to attack and they did. Thankfully we were able to respond and bring it home. I think Richie is a worthy winner of this race. He showed all week he’s the strongest rider here and he proved it again today. It’s a great day for the team again."
Stage eight result:
1. Gino Mader (Bahrain Victorious) 4:06:25
2. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) s.t.
3. Mattia Cattaneo (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +9"
4. Eddie Dunbar (INEOS Grenadiers) s.t.
5. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers)
Overall standings:
1. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) 24:44:01
2. Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) +17"
3. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana-Premier Tech) +1:15"
4. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:19"
5. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) +2:55"
12. Eddie Dunbar (INEOS Grenadiers) +6:15"
1. Gino Mader (Bahrain Victorious) 4:06:25
2. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) s.t.
3. Mattia Cattaneo (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +9"
4. Eddie Dunbar (INEOS Grenadiers) s.t.
5. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers)
Overall standings:
1. Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) 24:44:01
2. Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) +17"
3. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana-Premier Tech) +1:15"
4. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:19"
5. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) +2:55"
12. Eddie Dunbar (INEOS Grenadiers) +6:15"
