Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz, two promising cyclists aiming for the podium in the 2023 Tour de France, dashed their hopes when they hit the same corner during Stage 1. The crash. happened on the downhill of Alto del Vivero, just 23 kilometers from the finish line in Bilbao. While Carapaz managed to get back on his bike despite some discomfort and bleeding in his knee, Mas was unable to continue due to his severe injuries.
After the collision, Carapaz continued but finished 15 minutes 24 seconds behind the winner of the stage, Adam Yates of Team United Arab Emirates. However, subsequent medical examinations revealed that Carapaz had suffered a small fracture in his left kneecap. As a result, he made the difficult decision not to start Phase 2, as announced by EF Education-EasyPost.
Both Mas and Carapaz are seen as candidates who can capitalize on any blunders by the favorites, Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates and Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side, and they found themselves facing the disappointment of leaving the race early.
Enric Mas, a three-time runner-up at the Vuelta a España and a fifth-place finish on the Tour de France 2020, has high expectations for this year’s race. Similarly, Richard Carapaz, 2019 Giro d’Italia winner and podium finisher in all three Grand Tours, was hoping to make an impact. However, their dreams were shattered because of an unfortunate accident.
Mas’ team confirmed his withdrawal from the Tour de France via a tweet providing an update on his condition. The tweet referred to a small crack in his left kneecap, which was discovered via an ultrasound, and noted that he received three stitches to close the cut on the same knee. Thankfully, no other injuries have been reported, but Mas will now focus on his recovery, which will begin at home.
Enric Mas expressed disappointment with the Tour de France results on social media, thanking fans for their support and wishing his teammates every success in the remaining leg of the race. He acknowledged the unpredictable nature of cycling and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to cycle on roads cherished by fans every year.
With Mas and Carapaz being the first two riders to quit and considering the high number of dropouts during the Tour de France last year, it remains to be seen whether many cyclists will be forced to withdraw for the remaining 20 stages of the tour. race or not.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
