That removes a major layer of speculation. If Carapaz does go back to the Giro, it would not be because he needs a big result in a contract year, but because it is a race he actively wants to target.
Carapaz’s strongest Grand Tour results have always come in Italy. He broke through at the Giro in 2018 with a stage win and fourth overall, then went on to win the race outright in 2019, becoming the first Ecuadorian to take a Grand Tour title.
When he returned in 2022, he finished second overall, again showing that the Giro consistently brings out his best level. More recently, he has added another podium there in 2025, underlining how reliably he performs on Italian roads.
That history explains why a Giro return in 2026 makes sporting sense. The terrain, the racing style and the rhythm of the race have always suited his attacking climbing style better than any other Grand Tour.
For now, everything remains at the level of reporting rather than confirmation. But if Carapaz does line up in Italy in 2026, it would be a deliberate return to the race that has defined his career more than any other.