Richie tore around the 40.64-km race course in Riobamba to win his country’s race against the clock by 41 seconds. He finished with a time of 51:08. The new champ can’t wait to fly his country’s flag in time trials around the world this season.

“It was a very demanding course,” Carapaz said after the finish. “It was very flat, not really made for me, but there were a lot of technical corners where I could really show my potential and take advantage of my experience. I did a very even TT, where I could maintain my top effort from the very beginning. I am so happy to take my first piece of silverware of the season and win this distinctive beautiful TT suit.”

Rapha’s designers are already sharpening their colored pencils. They know where to start. Richie is the reigning Ecuadorian road race champion. On Sunday he will set out to defend his title and win the right to wear the Ecuadorian tricolor jersey the whole year through.

“Today was the first joy of the season,” Carapaz said. “I know I am doing what I need to do right, and this is what motivates me for what is coming up next.”

Sunday’s road race championships will again take place in Riobamba, a mountain town that is located almost 3,000 meters up in the Andes. Carapaz has been training at home in his country’s rarified air and is in excellent shape. He will race alongside his countryman and EF Education-EasyPost teammate Alexander Cepeda, as the two set out to keep both Ecuadorian champion’s jerseys in the team.

Then, they will travel to Colombia for our team’s biggest South American race of the season. The Tour of Colombia starts February 6. Richard Carapaz is ready.