Carapaz wins Ecuador’s first-ever Olympic cycling gold medal in men’s road race

Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz motored to victory with an impressive solo effort over the final four kilometers of the Fuji International Speedway in Saturday’s men’s Olympic road race.

Carapaz completed the lengthy 234-kilometer race weaving around the outskirts of Tokyo, as temperatures approached 30 degrees Celsius, in six hours, five minutes and 26 seconds. Cyclists climbed Mikuni Pass at 1171-meters in elevation and Kagosaka Pass at more than 1,100-meters over the final 40-kilometers of the course adding to grueling nature of the race.

The 28-year-old winner is fresh off his third place finish at the Tour de France, riding to a gold medal that will overshadow his podium in Paris just six days ago.

Just over one minute behind Carapaz crossing the line, Belgium’s “Mr. Versatility” Wout van Aert nipped Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar in a photo finish to win a silver medal, while the two-time Tour de France champion took bronze. Van Aert and Pogacar outsprinted six fellow riders to claim their medals.

Carapaz is the first men’s Olympic road race champion from both Ecuador and South America.

Spectators lined sections of the road course in close proximity, leaving doubt as to whether Japanese authorities could enforce social distancing. The clusters were most noticeable as cyclists made their way through towns with around 30-kilometers to go and also along the homestretch of the motor speedway.

Despite a string of crashes, including one involving 2018 Tour de France Geraint Thomas that ultimately ended his hopes, the race was staged without major incident.

Rio 2016 champion Greg van Avermaet was among 41 of 126 riders that failed to finish a course that launched from Tokyo’s Musashinonomori Park at 11 a.m local time.

The Olympic champion from Ecuador owes some of the credit to American rider Brandon McNulty, the duo breaking away from a pack of about a dozen riders on a climb with about 25 kilometers to go.

Carapaz and McNulty worked together incrementally increasing their lead over the chasing pack while looking similar adorned in white jerseys and black shorts. The duo surged to a nearly 40-second advantage with just under 17 kilometers to go, however that lead dwindled to 18 seconds at the 10-kilometer mark.

Carapaz attacked the 23-year-old American with just under six kilometers to go, quickly building upon his lead as he neared the race circuit with views of Mt. Fuji in the distance. After the decisive move, his victory was never in doubt. McNulty finished sixth.

Czech rider Michal Schlegal was forced out of the race having tested positive for COVID-19 prior to Friday’s opening ceremony, while concern was also raised following a case involving a Spanish masseur.

The Spanish team positive set off alarm bells at a time when the Iberian cyclists were preparing to participate for the race with world champion Alejandro Valverde.

In view of the news known in the early hours of Saturday morning the members of the national team were subjected to a PCR test whose result was negative and were able to compete on Saturday.

Cycling continues with the 137-kilometer women’s road race on Sunday in Tokyo.

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