Cunning Carapaz puts himself in the spotlight for the Giro: "This is my race"

Carapaz is eager to get started in the Giro. His 2019 victory is still his only win in a Grand Tour, but in 2022, he came close to a second pink jersey. "I missed it so much, I couldn't wait to come back," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I asked my team because it's my race. I always have extra motivation. The Giro suits me, my style. I make no secret of the fact that I am very ambitious. I always start with the ambition to achieve the best. That means again lifting the Trofeo Senza Fine (trophy without end, ed.)."

The former Olympic champion speaks his mind. The overall victory in Rome is the goal, although he knows that Roglic and Ayuso are the men to beat, given their performances this season. "Primoz has the best track record of all the participants in the grand tours, and Juan has the youth and talent to think big. They are two great riders, and it's up to me to beat them. I'm in good shape, and then the race will put everyone in their place." Ayuso won the Tirreno-Adriatico but later had to concede defeat to Roglic in the Tour of Catalonia.

And Carapaz? He finished 18th in Tirreno and 10th in Catalonia. These were not exactly the best results, but everything went according to plan: a gradual build-up was the strategy. "I have prepared well to be at the top in May. It's primarily a personal challenge, and after riding the Giro d'Italia three times with great results, I don't want the next one to be an exception. The team supports me 100%, and I'm happy about that. The first twelve days of the race are classics, but the third week will be decisive."

The climber knows that his last podium finish in a Grand Tour dates back to 2022. “Sometimes luck wasn't on my side, like in the 2023 Tour, when I crashed in the first stage and had to abandon the race, he explains. "But often, I was in the spotlight. Think of the last Tour: a stage win, a day in the yellow jersey, the polka dot jersey, and the Super-Combativity Award. And in the Vuelta, I went for the GC and finished fourth, less than a minute off the podium. I fought every day, and I still have a good taste in my mouth." Enough reason to go all out for that second trophy in Rome.