"Richard, congrats". Those words were enough after crossing the finish line this Saturday in La Vuelta a España for the two-time champion Primoz Roglic to acknowledge the competitiveness and sportsmanship of the exhausted Richard Carapaz, the runner-up.
The congratulations were mutual. "Congrats," the Ecuadorian returned with a smile, despite his exhaustion, to the Slovenian.
Hours later, the Locomotive of Carchi wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations, Primoz Roglic. Great athlete, my utmost respect".
The cyclist of the Jumbo-Visma team won the cycling race for the second consecutive edition and on Sunday he will be crowned in Madrid, at the end of the last stage.
Mijines.. here is the face of true happiness!! -- And as we say in my town "happy as a worm" -- We bring a great podium home!! ---- Congratulations @rogla ---- -- @GettySport pic.twitter.com/lK7hIxcUob
— Richard Carapaz M (@RichardCarapazM) November 7, 2020
Meanwhile, the tricolor of the Ineos Grenadiers took the opportunity to address his followers and declared himself "happy as a worm" to bring "a great podium home".
La Vuelta is the last of the three major cycling races of this year.
The second place in Spain brings Carapaz's second podium in a major cycling race. In 2019, he won the Giro d'Italia.
Roglic, on the other hand, has a second place in the Tour de France (2020) and a third place in the Giro (2019). To date, he is considered the best cyclist in the world. (D)