Milan, April 29 (LaPresse) – Richard Carapaz will skip the 2026 Giro d’Italia to prepare for the Tour de France. His team EF Pro Cycling announced this, explaining that “Richie is back on the bike and has fully recovered from surgery to remove a perineal cyst, which he underwent in Ecuador after the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The surgical wound took longer than expected to heal, delaying his return to training and preventing him from taking part in this year’s Giro. The Olympic champion and former Maglia Rosa winner is sorry not to be able to take part in the Giro and is now focused on arriving at the start of the Tour de France ready to compete with the best.” “For me it is a big disappointment, because the Giro is a race I have always been very fond of and that I was looking forward to,” Carapaz said. “I always try to prepare in the best way, every time I take part in the Giro it is a very special moment. Finding myself in this situation is frustrating because I put in a lot of effort and time, but in the end I have to prioritise my health and look ahead,” he said. “These are things you are not prepared for. I will try to make the most of it and move forward. We are on the eve of the Tour. There are less than 70 days to the start. I want to do my best, prepare in the best way and try to achieve a good result,” he concluded.