Richard Carapaz will not start the 2025 Tour de France after being diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection, dealing a blow to EF Education-EasyPost just days before the Grand Départ.
The Ecuadorian had been targeting stage wins and another run at the King of the Mountains jersey after finishing third overall at the Giro d’Italia. However, while training at home in Ecuador, the 32-year-old developed severe abdominal pain and a high fever. Multiple medical assessments led to a diagnosis of gastrointestinal infection, and he was prescribed antibiotics and treatment to manage symptoms.
According to the team, medical staff in both Ecuador and at EF advised against long-haul travel or competing in the Tour, ruling out his participation.
EF Education-EasyPost CEO Jonathan Vaughters voiced his disappointment in a team release:
“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’s a champion in every sense, and knowing him, I have no doubt this setback will only motivate him to come back stronger.”
Carapaz had a frustrating Tour de France in 2023, crashing out on stage 1, but returned in 2024 to win the mountains classification and claim a solo victory on stage 17, completing his set of Grand Tour stage wins.
He is expected to return to racing later this summer, with his sights now set on the Vuelta a España, which starts on 23rd August in Piemonte. Carapaz has an impressive history at the Spanish Grand Tour, finishing second overall in 2020, winning three stages and the polka-dot jersey in 2022, and placing fourth in 2024.
EF have yet to confirm who will replace him on their Tour de France roster.
