Carapaz the most naturally talented rider EF has ever had says Vaughters

Richard Carapaz kick-started his 2024 season with a victory in the time trial at the Ecuadorian national championships. The EF Education-EasyPost rider beat Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda and former teammate Jonathan Klever Caicedo to the title in what was only his first day of racing this year.

Carapaz is hoping to put a disappointing 2023 behind him after a year blighted by illness and then a crash at the Tour de France that effectively ended the middle portion of his season. He will once again target the Tour de France this summer and team boss Jonathan Vaughters is confident that his star rider can maintain his upward trajectory as the campaign develops.

Read more: Richard Carapaz: I'm starting from zero but the Tour de France is my ambition

“He’s in a much better place than he was last year, that’s for sure. It’s interesting because as I’ve got to know him better, it’s become clearer that he’s a really, really talented rider and much more so than what’s already been shown. He’s not a robot when it comes to training, and he definitely lives his life, which is probably the reason why when he wins something it’s in a very spectacular and fun way,” Vaughters told GCN following Carapaz’s win.

Asked if Carapaz was the most naturally talented rider Vaughters has ever signed the American team boss paused before giving both context and a definitive answer.

“He’s not just one of these metronomic robots that we’re used to seeing riding GC in cycling. He’s not like that on the bike and he’s not like that off the bike. I would say, yes, based on pure natural talent he’s probably the best rider we’ve had. I didn’t realise that when we hired him though. I thought that he was part of the Ineos construction machine but it turns out, that’s not where his zip comes from.”

Carapaz will take part in the Tour of Colombia next week before heading to Europe and racing Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country. Vaughters’ primary hope is that the former Giro d’Italia winner can enjoy a long and sustained run of health and form, without any of the problems that disrupted him in 2023.

“He just needs consistency, not getting sick or injured. If he can do that between now and July then he can have a great Tour de France. He’s just got to keep following things up helping him to the best that he can. If he can have an absolutely clean run, then he’ll be good,” Vaughters said.