Richard Carapaz abandons Vuelta a Espana 'totally empty'

Vuelta Espana 2021 - 76th Edition - 11th stage Antequera - Valdepenas de Jaen 133,6 km - 25/08/2021 - Richard Carapaz (ECU - Ineos Grenadiers) - photo Dario Belingheri/BettiniPhoto©2021
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Olympic road race champion Richard Carapaz was forced to quit the Vuelta a Espana on stage 14 after suffering due to fatigue in the blistering heat.  

The 28-year-old, who took a stunning victory in the men’s road race at the Tokyo Olympic Games, came into the Vuelta a Espana as a possible contender for the overall standings. He finished second to Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) last year but was never able to hit his top form during the opening two weeks in Spain this time around.

“I wanted to support the team here at the Vuelta a España and have gone out there everyday and given it my all, but unfortunately I’ve suffered with the heat and have ended totally empty,” Carapaz said on Sunday morning in a short statement released by his team.

“Now I’m going to recover and reset my goals. I am very proud of what I have achieved this season, and will work hard to build on this and keep moving forward, and will fight to achieve more success.”

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