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King of the Mountains Carapaz joins NSN Cycling team / Photo: © ANP/AFP/File
King of the Mountains Carapaz joins NSN Cycling team
Ecuadorian climbing king Richard Carapaz, a former Olympic champion and Giro d'Italia winner, has signed a two-year deal with NSN Cycling, the Swiss outfit announced Friday.
Carapaz, 33, had been riding for US team EF Education since 2023, finishing this year's Tour de France as King of the Mountains.
"Signing Richard Carapaz is a significant moment for our team and an important milestone in the development of our sporting project," said Kjell Carlstrom, manager of the team formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech.
"Richard is a proven champion. His achievements speak for themselves."
Known for his ferocious climbing and aggressive racing, Carapaz will become a key figure in the team's Grand Tour ambitions.
"For me, it's a tremendous opportunity as a rider to be part of this project and, above all, to be one of the team's leaders," says Carapaz.
"I'm simply very excited. I'm really looking forward to it."
In addition to his overall victory in the 2019 Giro d'Italia and road race gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Carapaz finished second in the 2020 Vuelta a Espana.
He also has ten stage wins across the three Grand Tours, the last two at the 2026 Tour de France, at Orcieres-Merlette and Alpe d'Huez, finishing the race wearing the top climber's polka dot jersey.
Q.Taylor--SFF
