Cycling Carapaz, historical gold
Richard Carapaz stretches his legs, as exhausted as he is happy. The smile is not erased from his face while he reviews the messages on his mobile phone, in a solitude with his assistant that contrasts with the swarm of assistants, technicians and colleagues who surround those who will support him on the podium, none other than
Tadej Pogacar and Wout Van Aert
. It is the prelude to the delivery of medals, in the bowels of the Fuji racetrack, and that of Carchi, who has just completed a solo feat of 234 kilometers in the heat and humidity of Fuji, does not care the least to attend to the issues of THE WORLD. Gold awaits you in a few moments.
What are you feeling right now? It's incredible, something still difficult to digest. But I am very excited. I was convinced that I had it on my legs. I tried it on the Tour, I did the preparation and when I came here, I tried to do my best. What a great moment, dressing in gold like this is amazing, when did you know it was time? I knew McNulty was shooting really well, that I could take good advantage of that and it was just a timely move. We have seen that we have taken 10 seconds, quickly we have started to collaborate and it has been vital. Me on the descent, he an expert on the plain. I have taken advantage. In the end I knew that he was the strongest and it was not necessary to start. I have only continued, I have continued, I have continued and to the finish, it is the second gold medal for Ecuador in all its history,after Jefferson Pérez in Atlanta 1996. For me this is special, I enjoy this. I have been an athlete who has come out without the support of his country. In Ecuador they have never believed in me and this gold belongs to me and to all those who supported me at the time. Now I know that everyone will want to celebrate this medal, but it is for those who really supported me. Don't you feel loved in Ecuador? In the end they have never believed in me [he insists], only certain people and now here I am, enjoying a dream that I have fulfilled. We must continue to give opportunities to athletes who really deserve it. He came from the Tour podium, where he tried everything. We had planned to win the Tour but it is something very difficult. The Tour was different, it was 21 days and you had to be there every day. Here was the fight for just one day, like the lottery,and if you got the good ticket, you could wear gold and the truth is that I have been very intelligent all the race. Jonathan [Narváez] has always been very aware of me, he has helped me at all times, he went to get water. There were only two of us, we tried to take advantage of the big teams. I'm very happy, it's something that I have here and I can't believe it. Did you travel alone to the Games? We had to find a masseur, we came alone, we took advantage of the Ineos people who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.Jonathan [Narváez] has always been very aware of me, he has helped me at all times, he went to get water. There were only two of us, we tried to take advantage of the big teams. I'm very happy, it's something that I have here and I can't believe it. Did you travel alone to the Games? We had to find a masseur, we came alone, we took advantage of the people from Ineos who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.Jonathan [Narváez] has always been very aware of me, he has helped me at all times, he went to get water. There were only two of us, we tried to take advantage of the big teams. I'm very happy, it's something that I have here and I can't believe it. Did you travel alone to the Games? We had to find a masseur, we came alone, we took advantage of the people from Ineos who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.we have tried to take advantage of the big teams. I'm very happy, it's something that I have here and I can't believe it. Did you travel alone to the Games? We had to find a masseur, we came alone, we took advantage of the people from Ineos who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.we have tried to take advantage of the big teams. I'm very happy, it's something that I have here and I can't believe it. Did you travel alone to the Games? We had to find a masseur, we came alone, we took advantage of the people from Ineos who were here, who were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.they were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.they were with England and Ireland. We asked people for help for this and they are the ones who have really given us their hand when they need it. A podium for history with Van Aert and Pogacar. Pogacar is the winner of the Tour. And Van Aert the strongest has finished. An incredible podium. It's more enjoyable. Now what, Richard? Enjoy.
Carapaz, just before the interview.
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