EF Education–EasyPost builds Giro campaign around Carapaz, Ecuadorian star goes all-in for a second Giro victory

Carapaz is oozing confidence and can't wait to start in the Giro. "The Giro is a very important race for me and my sports career because it was the first one I was able to win as a three-week rider," he said on the team's website. The 2019 winner is clear about his ultimate goal. "I have prepared for this one well and my ambitions are very big. This will be my fourth Giro. The last three were very good, and I hope this one will be the same or even better."

Clear words from the talented climber. One of his most important domestiques is Gregor Steinhauser. The German won a stage last year, but will mainly be working as a domestique. !I will support Richie and if I get the opportunity and have the legs to have a similar Giro like I did last year, that would be amazing. My preparation this year didn’t go as planned, and I missed some races, but it is going to be really cool to ride for Richie. He is a nice leader because he is super experienced. He knows what he has to do. He knows what calls he needs to make, and you know that he is always going to be in the right position at the right moment. That makes a lot of the work we need to do easier."

Jefferson Alexander Cepeda, Darren Rafferty, and James Shaw complete the climbers' team. On the flat, he will be supported by Owain Doull, Mikkel Honoré, and Kasper Asgreen. The Dane will be at the start of the Giro for the first time. "It has always been one of those races that hasn’t fit in with the schedule I usually race," he says. "I am really, really excited. The Italian fans, like the Belgian ones, are just super knowledgeable about cycling. Cycling is ingrained into their culture, and they like to celebrate the champions of cycling. That is a really nice environment to race in."

The 30-year-old classics specialist will act as road captain in Albania and Italy, but he will also be allowed to go for his own chances from time to time, such as on the gravel stage to Siena. "Richie is going really well, so it will be my role to keep him safe through the first stages until we arrive in the mountains. If opportunities come up, I will definitely take them, but the first priority is definitely Richard," concludes the former winner of the Tour of Flanders.