Richard Carapaz has not been seen in World Tour competitions since the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France. Although it was hoped that the Ecuadorian would recover in time to start the Vuelta a España, this now appears unlikely.
“We have been monitoring his progress day by day and conducting the corresponding exams. With all of this, Richard will not be able to participate in the Vuelta a España,” revealed his doctor, José Reinhart, to the newspaper La Red. “What was necessary has been done, the recommended stages were followed, but he couldn’t make it. Initially, we hoped he would make it to the competition, but it was not possible. We spoke with him, his coach, and both accepted the recommendation.”
Carapaz bravely struggled to finish the opening stage of the Tour de France despite suffering a patellar fracture (knee) in a previous crash. After undergoing a post-stage medical examination, the injuries were revealed, leading him to abandon the race before the start of the 2nd stage.
“If he were to participate in La Vuelta, he wouldn’t be able to perform at 100%,” clarified Dr. Reinhart. “He could even risk a muscle injury. The best course of action is to stop and allow him to recover properly before returning to the roads later on.”