The EF Education-EasyPost team has suffered a major blow after star cyclist Richard Carapaz got into a crash. This is a serious hit to the team’s chances in the Tour de France, as Carapaz was one of their key contenders for the overall victory. Carapaz and Spanish cyclist Enric Mas crashed into each other, which ruined both their chances of continuing in the race.

Mas, from the Movistar team, was severely injured in the shoulder. He was forced to withdraw from the race. Carapaz mounted a new bike and resumed the race after taking a few minutes to compose himself. Although he was injured, the ace cyclist and champion displayed immense determination to complete the stage.

Carapaz’s Determination Shines Through After Tour de France Crash

The incident occurred during a treacherous descent of the Alto del Vivero, where both cyclists were pushing their limits to gain an advantage. The two riders fell with just 23 kilometers left to go in the race to Bilbao. Carapaz had visible cuts on both his knees, yet he mounted his bike and continued to give chase to the peloton that was several minutes ahead of him. He fought through the pain and finished the race despite losing 15:24. Carapaz went for an X-ray immediately after finishing the race.

The team later announced via their official Twitter account that Richard Carapaz would not be able to continue the Tour because of a “small fracture in his left kneecap.” The tweet also added that the champion cyclist had a deep cut on the left knee, which was patched up with three stitches. There were no other injuries on his body that needed medical attention. The announcement also ended with a promise that the other team members would do their best to tackle the rest of the Tour on behalf of the champion. And they have certainly kept their promise.

Team Shows Resilience and Unity After Carapaz’s Withdrawal

Fellow cyclist Neilson Powless was able to grab the lead in the Category 2 Cote de Vivero 2.7-mile bike climb. He snatched the first victory for the team in the 2023 Tour. Afterward, he was awarded the polka dot jersey. In an interview, he said, “I’m so happy to be in this jersey but I really want to find out how Richie is doing.” He added that the race to Paris has just begun, and winning this jersey early on has given him the boost in confidence he needed. He promises to do his best for the team in the absence of the champion, Richard Carapaz.

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The news of Carapaz’s injury clearly agitated fans as well. They took to Twitter to wish Carapaz a speedy recovery. With the champion gone, the fate of the team seems really uncertain.

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