Giro19 richard carapazs road to victory photo gallery | Cycl Circuit

PeloPics: We’re all missing the action from Italy, so let’s turn the clock back to last year and the Giro d’Italia of 2019 – one of surprises. Not many had Richard Carapaz at the top of their favourites list? The Ecuadorian rode a solid race, never far from the action and once he took the pink jersey, he and his Movistar team defended to the hilt. We follow his route to victory in this photo gallery.

Carapaz wasn’t the only Giro surprise: First the non-appearance of Alejandro Valverde and Egan Bernal due to injury, Tom Dumoulin crashing out, the emergence of Pascal Ackermann as a top sprinter and Vincenzo Nibali showing that there is ‘life in the old dog yet’. But the top prise goes to “La Locomotora”. Here is his Giro story in pictures.

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Giro d’Italia 2018
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Maybe not such a surprise; 4th overall in the 2018 Giro d’Italia with a stage win. Here he battles with eventual winner Chris Froome

Stage 1
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Carapaz finished stage 1 in 14th place at 47 seconds to Primoz Roglic

Stage 4

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Was his stage 4 win a sign of what was to come?

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Carapaz took his chance on the up-hill finish to hold off Caleb Ewan

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Carapaz was to see the podium quite a lot in May

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The first bottle of Astoria

Stage 11
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Keeping his powder dry – In 20th place overall at 5:06

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Stage 12
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Business as usual for a ‘water-carrier’

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Stage 12 saw the race hit the first obstacles that could change the overall

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By the end of the day Carapaz was up to 8th place at 7:23 to Jan Polanc and 3 minutes down on Roglic

Stage 14
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Stage 14 to Courmayeur was a full day in the mountains and Carapaz threw the gauntlet down

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The Ecuadorian attacked at 28 kilometres out

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A solo win, 1:32 ahead of Simon Yates and 1:54 on Vincenzo Nibali and the other GC men

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New pink jersey; Carapaz 7 seconds on Roglic and 1:47 on Nibali

Stage 15
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Movistar were happy in pink

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The top men were watching each other

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Just pink handlebar tape, the bike was on the way

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The split went to the line, but there was a late attack…

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No problem

Stage 16
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A wet day on the Mortirolo

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Vincenzo Nibali put in a solid attack, Simon Yates and Primoz Roglic lost time. Carapaz was on the Italian’s wheel

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Still going well for the man from Ecuador

Stage 17
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The start of another day in pink

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The break went all the way. Behind, Movistar jumped the other GC men

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Carapaz and Lopez split the group

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A little bit more time in the overall bag

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‘Superman’ Lopez managed to hold the wheel of Carapaz

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Now with 1:54 on Vincenzo Nibali

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Another step nearer the final overall win

Stage 18
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Nice ride yesterday

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The pink Canyon arrived in time for stage 18

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No pink shorts!

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A day off for the top riders and flowers for the fans

Stage 19
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All smiles at the start

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Movistar were in control

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Primoz Roglic was out to make a mark

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Roglic split the leaders, but it was Lopez who gained time and Yates lost some

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The main men were still together at the finish in San Martino di Castrozza

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Roglic couldn’t get ride of Carapaz and the others

Stage 20
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Lopez, Carapaz, Landa, Nibali and Roglic – Ready for the final battle in the mountains

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Movistar knew what they had to do

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Would it be Landa’s day?

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Lopez wanted to do some damage, but he and Roglic lost time

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Landa was the perfect teammate

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The stage was meant to be for Landa, but…

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The best form of defence is attack

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Don’t let Vincenzo see your face

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The tough stage 20 in the bag and Nibali finished behind Carapaz

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The last mountains were over

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A happy Carapaz family

Stage 21
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Just the matter of a 17 kilometre time trial in Verona

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‘The hardest day of my life’ said Richard Carapaz of stage 21

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After 23 minutes and 19 seconds, it was all over

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Carapaz may have lost 47 seconds to Nibali, but it didn’t matter

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Relief at last

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The ‘Never Ending Trophy’

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This one is for Ecuador

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Did the Movistar team come to Italy expecting to win

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Where does this leave Nairo Quintana? Looking for a new team

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The fans had come a long way from Ecuador to see history in the making

A fine win for Richard Carapaz, Ecuador and the Movistar team. Maybe just another win to add to all the others by the Spanish formation, but it is also ushers in a new fave of Grand Tour winners.

Lunga vita al Giro d’Italia!