Exclusive - Richard Carapaz eyes Olympic gold repeat at Paris 2024: 'It's my greatest motivation'

A part of Richard Carapaz is still living on 24 July 2021 - the day he became Olympic champion in road cycling at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

"It was spectacular. I still have it in my mind, it was something very special. I think it has been one of the greatest things I have been able to achieve in my sports career. And not just finishing the race, but the fact of making a medal and not any medal, but a gold medal, which probably nobody expected," said the Ecuadorian in an interview with Olympics.com during last month's Volta a Catalunya.

His gold at Tokyo 2020, in 2021, in the road race came just one week after a third-place finish at Le Tour de France, which was the podium he had been missing in the Grand tours (Giro, Tour, and Vuelta). He crowned his momentum in Japan after an exhibition of his profile in cycling: climber.

"For me it was a dream come true, I experienced it in the best way possible. It has been an experience that I will never erase from my mind because I still have it etched. It was a big recognition for me and especially for those who are with me and and have been part of it."

• Top things to know about Richard Carapaz

Richard Carapaz's family farm

Richard Carapaz's success extends beyond his Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020, as he has also claimed victory at the Giro d'Italia in 2019, finished third at Le Tour de France in 2021, and secured second place in La Vuelta a España in 2020.

Despite his accomplishments, Carapaz remains connected to his roots in his hometown of Carchi, Ecuador, and often returns to his family farm, even while living in Monaco during the cycling season.

"Sometimes people even tease me saying 'What are you doing here?'. They have expectations that don't fit at all with the reality. They think I should be living in Paris, but I live here [in Carchi]. Here I try to get the most of all moments, because they are unique for me."

He embraces his agricultural background, explaining: "If you see me out there wearing a pair of rubber boots and milking cows, that's completely normal," said Carapaz.

Carapaz's roots and family hold great importance to him, and he wants to instill this value in his children.

"I don't forget my roots. I am very proud of where I come from and I enjoy being here. At the end of the day, this is a completely different world than the one in which I live during the season. I feel that the most of my life I've shared moments with my beloved, I've been with my family - and that's something that I try to teach to my children. My family is very happy that I don't forget that."

Richard Carapaz: That blue bike without tires

After his Olympic triumph, Carapaz has remained grounded, never forgetting his humble beginnings.

When he was born on 29 May 1993, Carapaz was just a child who saw bicycles as a means of transportation, long before he earned the nickname "La locomotora de Carchi" ("Carchi's locomotive"). 

His first bike was stolen, but he managed to salvage a BMX bike from a junk truck, even though it was missing its tires. At that time, he had no idea what Le Tour or Giro were.

"I have loved cycling my whole life, ever since I learned how to ride. I rarely heard commentary about races on the radio and I remember asking myself, 'Where does this come from? What is it?' Then, I learned about the sport. I've had a complete fondness for it."

"The bicycle has brought me to where I am now, and I hope it will continue to do so for many more years," says the cyclist, who still keeps the blue bicycle without tires at his home in Carchi.

Richard Carapaz's next goals: Tour de France 2023 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Within those "many more years" an exciting 2023 season is awaiting for Carapaz, who has the clear goal of winning the Tour de France with his new team, EF Education-Easypost.

"This season is going to be very exciting. First of all, because I've changed teams, there are new things, new teammates. And that excites me a lot. I have high expectations. With the team we know that we have many things to do, greater goals" says Carapaz.

Without deciding on his next race yet, Carapaz will seek to win the Grande Boucle for the first time in his career.

"Going to the Tour de France and winning: that is the biggest goal we have as a team and that's why I came here, that's why I'm here. I think the team trusts me in that. We want to do it in the best way possible. I think we have a diversity of riders to achieve that. I'm going to do my best to be at the Tour de France in the best conditions and fight for it," he said.

But Carapaz has an extra goal in his sights: the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

"I want to be there, and I want to be in the best shape possible. I'm very ambitious, I want to go back there and be able to do my best, dreaming of winning again. I think it's the greatest motivation we have right now", admits the Olympic champion .

However, he knows that the road to Paris is long and complicated, and all the races count.

"I think we still have much work to do until Paris: we have to win a lot of points. But we are convinced that we have to work and try to contribute as much as possible for the country and for the team," he continued.

Whether at the Olympics or at the Tour de France, the "Carchi locomotive" has the drive to reach the top, no matter how steep the climb.

Richard Carapaz: Results in 2023

• Ecuador's National Championship: 1st
• Volta a Catalunya 2023: 51st / most combative cyclist award
• Gran Premio Miguel Induráin 2023: 11th
• Itzulia 2023: retired due to allergy

What's Richard Carapaz next race?

There is no official information about Carapaz's next event in Europe, but he is currently training with a focus on the Tour de France 2023, scheduled to take place from 1 to 23.