Carapaz wins over Vuelta fans, but will look enviously at Kuss and Visma | Lease a Bike
CyclingSaturday, 12 September 2026 at 18:38
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Follow us on GoogleRichard Carapaz won himself another few thousand fans during Stage 20 of the Vuelta a España. The 33-year-old EF Education-EasyPost climber used the penultimate stage of the race to launch attack after attack, but ultimately did not get the reward his efforts perhaps deserved.
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Carapaz started the twentieth stage of the Tour of Spain sitting fourth in the general classification, 2 minutes and 16 seconds behind third-placed Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM). The Ecuadorian began attacking very early in the stage and, once he had started, he barely seemed willing to stop.
The Tour de France stage winner and mountains classification champion briefly found an ally from the group of favorites in Sepp Kuss of Visma | Lease a Bike. But while the American managed to break clear and take advantage of the tactical poker being played behind him, Carapaz was unable to make the same move stick.
The explosive EF rider tried several more times to shake off Gall in particular, but the Austrian explained afterward that, having survived two huge attacks from his rival, he was determined not to be caught out again. By the final climb, Carapaz had emptied the tank, while Gall eventually managed to ride away from everyone else.
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Kuss moves up the standings, Carapaz does not
Kuss, helped by Visma | Lease a Bike teammates who had made the early breakaway, ultimately clawed back several minutes and moved up to fifth place overall. Carapaz, meanwhile, remained stuck in fourth in the general classification. There would be no move up the standings for a rider who has already finished on the podium in all three Grand Tours and won the Giro d'Italia in 2019.
“We had nothing to lose and a lot to gain,” Carapaz said as he explained his relentless series of attacks. “The team did a great job and I'm happy,” he stressed as well, accepting that there was simply nothing more he could have done on the day.
After an excellent Tour de France, Carapaz needed quite some time to ride himself into the Vuelta a España and lost time to several of his rivals along the way. He came back to life as the race moved into its third week, but by then the damage had already been done. What remains is fourth place overall — and a standing ovation for the way he raced.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- Pogi is the Road Warrior par excellence. Come back even stronger much to the chagrin of all other competitors.
Brucegel12-09-2026 - - Félicitations in advance si ça se concrétise. Line-up looks très britannique mais con ambición grande. Tour 2027 en Edimbourg sería épico si les invitan.gearguru3310-09-2026
- - Vamos Ethan! Breakaway king of this Vuelta and super combative. Today’s flat chrono is perfect terrain—just keep it clean through the Jerez crosswinds.breakawaybikerd10-09-2026
- - Bit cautious here. Hayter’s had stop-start seasons with crashes/illness and I still don’t know if he’s a GC week-long guy or a TT/sprint hybrid. Curious whether they build around him or Pidcock first.pedalpowe2910-09-2026
- - Hayter’s engine + Q5’s growing train could smash team TTs and medium sprint stages. Mauro Schmid + Bittner coming too? That’s a nasty lead-out combo if they gel.cyclechamp4510-09-2026
- - Can someone explain how ProTeams get Tour invites? If Q5 aren’t automatic, what results do they need—UCI points, one-day wins, or stage race podiums? Confused how that process works.samanthak10-09-2026
- - Love the Edinburgh Grand Départ angle. If ASO is on the fence, a British TT champ in form plus Pidcock makes that wildcard case much stronger. Q5 look less like a ProTeam and more like a budding GC/ Classics hybrid.jennifer1910-09-2026
- - Not sure the piece nails the contract timing. Says “for 2027” but what about 2025–26? Is he staying at Soudal through 2026 even after being told no extension? Sounds a bit contradictory tbh.robert6510-09-2026
- - Huge if true. Hayter to Q5 alongside Pidcock, Wright and Gloag gives them a legit British core. With Glasenberg’s backing they’re clearly aiming at TdF wildcardHope he nails today’s TT after missing the Bilbao opener by09s—that’s been haunting him all Vuelta.tourdeforce910-09-2026
- - Love the honesty about hesitating because of Remco’s messages. Ego flattered but head ruled. That’s grown-up stuff. Vamos Tim, forza UAE!andrewf10-09-2026
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