Nestled in his home in Carchi, Ecuador, at an altitude of 9,442 feet, our men’s squad leader has a trophy room where all his career highlights, trophies, and most cherished jerseys are displayed. The collection grew significantly last summer when the EF Education-EasyPost rider wore the Tour de France yellow jersey for a day, won a stage, and spectacularly earned the iconic polka-dot jersey. But as beautiful as those two jerseys are, perhaps the prizes that mean the most to Richard are his maglia rosa and the Trofeo Senza Fine, which he claimed back at the Giro d’Italia in 2019.

This year, Richard and EF Education-EasyPost return to Italy to try and win a second career Giro d’Italia for both rider and team. Along the way, the 31-year-old will build his form and aim to pick up results in Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before reaching the Giro d’Italia in peak condition on for the La Grande Partenza on May 9. A Tour de France - where he will target stage wins - also looms, but for now, the Italian grand tour is taking up all of Richard’s focus.

“I have fond memories from the Giro d’Italia, and going back to the race this year is one of my biggest goals for the season,” he tells us ahead of his next racing appointment at Strade Bianche this weekend.

“Over the winter my preparation has been excellent and during all my training at home in Ecuador my thoughts were all about the Giro, and I think it’s possible to win the race again,” he adds.

The Giro d’Italia doesn’t just hold a place in Richard’s heart because of his previous success. It’s more than that.

Growing up in Ecuador, this was the first international race he tracked, offering an initial glimpse into European racing. As luck would have it, it was also the first grand tour where he showcased his potential by finishing fourth in 2018. For Richard, the Giro d’Italia represents more than just a race; it embodies a feeling, a passion, a devotion.

“The Giro was the first race I followed when I started cycling. I love the Giro, and its spirit. It’s a super special race to me, and it was also my first grand tour, which I did well in. I know the people in Ecuador follow the race too, on TV, on the internet, and they share my passion for the race,” he says.

“And my passion for the Giro d’Italia has never gone away. In my house, I have the trophy room, the maglia rosa, and the trophy take center stage. Every day, when I walk by and see them I gain extra motivation to win the race again. I want another maglia rosa,” he adds.

Of course, the task won’t be easy. A star-studded field is heading to the Giro d’Italia, with previous winners and new headliners also dreaming of donning the maglia rosa when the race concludes in Rome on June 1.

But Richard knows that the full support and backing from EF Education-EasyPost will be behind him every step of the way.

“There will be lots of good contenders at the race like Primož Roglič, Juan Ayuso and the Yates brothers but you can expect that from a race as important as the Giro d’Italia and for me and my morale I go there to win the race. Whoever comes with me, we’ll have a super competitive team. I will have great teammates, and I know the support will be there to help me," he says.

“I’ve also looked at the route a few times. The start in Albania and the three stages there will be tough and we’ll be in the mountains in the first week. The second week is important with the time trial and stages where you need to pay attention, and of course, the final week, like always in the Giro d’Italia, is super tough. That’s where the race will be decided. I like the route a lot. There are a few climbs I recognize but there are new ones too,” he says.

Before he reaches the Giro d’Italia, Richard is readying himself for a busy spring. This weekend he’ll head to Strade Bianche for the fifth time in his illustrious career, before embarking on one of his other favorite races, Tirreno-Adriatico - a race he’s used many times to build his Giro form. The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and a one-day outing in Liège-Bastogne-Liège are also on his schedule.

“For me, and the team, the plan is to arrive at the Giro d’Italia in perfect condition. It’s still good to have results before and for the morale, but it’s about building towards the Giro. I’m crossing my fingers, and I dream of winning the Giro d’Italia. I’m 31 now and this isn’t my last chance, maybe I have two or three chances left in my career for GC, but I want to make this year count,” he says of his determination to succeed and push on from the fine fourth place overall he achieved in last year’s Vuelta a España.

“My first year at EF wasn’t what I hoped for in 2023. I had the crash in the Tour de France but my second year was a lot better. I wore the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, won a stage and finished with the polka-dot jersey in Nice. I finished the Vuelta a España in fourth place and it was at that moment, I decided to head back to the Giro d’Italia and try and win the race with EF Education-EasyPost,” he said.

The hope is that Richard’s trophy room will have a new addition by the end of spring and that a second maglia rosa and Trofeo Senza Fine will be displayed in Carchi.

Strade Bianche

Tirreno-Adriatico

Milano-Torino

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Giro d'Italia