‘Health always comes first’ — Richard Carapaz to miss 2025 Tour de France due to infection

INTERNATIONAL: Richard Carapaz, the leader of the EF Education-EasyPost team, unfortunately needed to withdraw from the Tour de France due to a gastrointestinal infection. 

Recently, the cyclist achieved a podium finish at the Giro d’Italia, claiming the third spot behind winner Simon Yates and Isaac del Toro.

Following Carapaz’s unexpected withdrawal, the EF CEO Jonathan Vaughters admitted: “We’re all gutted for Richard… He came out of the Giro with amazing form and was setting career-high power numbers in training… He sacrificed a lot to get to that level, so the timing really couldn’t be worse. We know how much the Tour means to him, so to lose him this close to the race is a real blow.” 

He added: “He’s a champion in every sense, and knowing him, I have no doubt this setback will only motivate him to come back stronger.” 

Before his exit, the 32-year-old cyclist gave an interview to The Athletic and shared his ambitions for the much-anticipated Tour de France. 

Carapaz said: “The Tour is a bit of a different race…  In a certain sense, I don’t have the team to fight for the overall victory. You need that for the first 10 stages.” 

“So to go for the general classification would be a little absurd. We’re going to do things that we can do… So our objectives are different. It’ll be similar to last year — I’ll go for a few stages, for the mountains jersey, which I really like. It’s a beautiful jersey.” 

“And in the end, it’s also going to be a bit more fun for me, isn’t it? Taking away the pressure of fighting every day for a Grand Tour, I’ve done that this year. In that sense, it’s a little bit better for me, too,” he said. 

On social media, Carapaz declared: “With great sadness I have to tell you that a gastrointestinal infection forces me to lose @letourdefrance 🇫🇷😔 Not the best news, but health always comes first. Thank you all for your messages and support. Good luck @efprocycling 💪🏽(translated)” 

Netizens showed their support in the comments section. One said: “Tour won’t be exciting anymore without Richard 😢😢(translated).” “The tour will be very different without you! Hope you’ll be better for La Vuelta 🙏🏼💛(translated),” said another. “Strength my Richi @richardcarapaz we hoped to see you shine once again in the Tour de France 🇫🇷 (translated)”, a fan said while another wished for a quick recovery: “Get well soon. We will be waiting for your return❤️❤️” 

Now, Carapaz’s absence from the team will be a significant setback for EF, as they lost both their team leader and best climber. The team has yet to announce the cyclist who will take his place.