Fresh off Tour de France success: EF Education-EasyPost goes all-in for Vuelta victory with Carapaz
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Follow us on GoogleEF Education-EasyPost has announced its roster for the Vuelta a España, with all eyes set on Richard Carapaz, who will be aiming for his second grand tour victory. The Ecuadorian rider will have a strong team of helpers, all focused on one goal: winning the overall title.
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Carapaz had an outstanding Tour de France, securing a stage win, the polka-dot jersey, and the super combativity award, making it a highly successful campaign. With renewed motivation, the 2019 Giro d'Italia winner is now fully committed to going after the red jersey in the Vuelta. Carapaz, who finished second in this race in 2020, hopes to challenge for the top spot this year. The American team’s intent to win the overall classification is evident in their carefully selected roster, as revealed on the team’s website.
In the high mountains, Carapaz will mainly rely on Jefferson Alexander Cepeda, Rigoberto Uran, and Darren Rafferty. For Uran, this will be his final grand tour; the 37-year-old Colombian last tasted victory with a stage win in the Vuelta two years ago. In contrast, this will be the first grand tour for Rafferty. The 21-year-old Irishman has already shown he has strong climbing legs and is eager to start in Portugal.
Alongside Uran, another seasoned rider, Rui Costa, will be at the start. The American team is further bolstered by Harry Sweeney, James Shaw, and Owain Doull. Doull, in particular, will be tasked with doing the dirty work in the flat stages, ensuring his leader stays safe in the peloton. The Vuelta kicks off on Saturday with an individual time trial through the streets of Lisbon.
Selection EF Education-EasyPost
Richard Carapaz
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda
Rigoberto Uran
Darren Rafferty
Rui Costa
Owain Doull
Harry Sweeney
James Shaw
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda
Rigoberto Uran
Darren Rafferty
Rui Costa
Owain Doull
Harry Sweeney
James Shaw
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026