Richard Carapaz weighs up options for June racing return ahead of Tour de France bid

Richard Carapaz is set to return to competitive cycling in June after missing the Giro d’Italia due to surgery and recovery. The Ecuadorian climber, who was expected to lead EF Education-EasyPost at his fifth Giro, was sidelined following an operation to remove a perineal cyst in April. This unexpected setback delayed his training and forced him to withdraw just a week before the race’s start in Bulgaria. Carapaz has not raced since March’s Volta a Catalunya, where he finished tenth, and is now focusing on preparing for the Tour de France, which begins in early July. Carapaz’s team has adjusted its Giro strategy in his absence, targeting breakaways with younger riders like Markel Beloki, who is currently performing well. Meanwhile, Carapaz is following a tailored training plan to regain form ahead of the Tour de France. Reports indicate that he took nearly a month off the bike post-surgery and is considering two potential races in June to fine-tune his condition: the Tour de Suisse and the Route d’Occitanie. The Tour de Suisse, featuring a strong field including riders like Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič, offers a more challenging preparation, whereas the Route d’Occitanie provides a shorter and less intense build-up. Carapaz has a strong history in both events and the Tour de France itself. In 2024, he secured a stage win and the polka dot jersey at the Tour, although his campaign was hampered by a crash at the Tour de Suisse earlier that year. His 2021 season was particularly notable, as he won the overall classification at the Tour de Suisse before finishing third on the Tour de France podium. These past performances underline his potential as a serious contender for the upcoming Tour, provided he can fully recover and regain his peak form. The decision on which race to use as a final tune-up will be crucial for Carapaz’s Tour de France ambitions. Opting for the Tour de Suisse could offer more rigorous competition and a better test of his climbing legs, while the Route d’Occitanie might allow for a more measured return to racing intensity. Either way, his return marks an important step in his campaign to challenge for the Tour’s general classification, and his progress will be closely watched by fans and rivals alike in the coming weeks.