The EF Education-Easy Post team suffered a bittersweet result in the opening stage of the Tour de France, with the cruelty and joy of professional racing in stark contrast.

Richard Karapas was involved in a crash with Enric Mas (Movistar) that ended each rider's overall hopes for the event.

Mas was forced to abandon the Tour due to a shoulder injury, and Calapaz sat on the road for several minutes after the crash to console himself. Eventually, the Ecuadorian champion got a new bike and fought through the pain to the finish in central Bilbao, losing 15 minutes and 24 seconds. Immediately after the finish, he visited the Tour's mobile x-ray van.

The team later announced that further tests revealed a small fracture in Carapaz's left kneecap, making it impossible for him to continue the race. He also needed three stitches to close the wound in his knee.

On a more positive note, Nielson Powles took the lead on the Category 2 Côte de Vivero climb to take the first mountains jersey of the 2023 Tour.

Cycling News reported how Carapas struggled to walk from the X-ray track to the team vehicle.

Large crowds from the Basque Country and Colombia packed around the EF Education-Easy Post bus, cheering on all the riders as they arrived. However, everyone on the team was concerned about Carapaz's injury.

Rigoberto Urán was 5:36 behind, leaving EF Education-Easy Post with no alternative for the overall contenders.

Paules lost 1:36 on the Côte de Paix when UAE Team Emirates was ahead of Tadei Pogachar and final stage winner Adam Yates. He was proud to wear the polka-dot jersey, but saddened to hear of Karapas' crash.

"It's definitely a mix of emotions right now," Paules told Cycling News in the podium area.

"I'm very happy to be wearing this jersey, but I really want to know what's going on with Richie. But I want to know what's going on with Richie. I hope he's okay."

EF Education-Easy Post is good at winning the polka-dot jersey early in the Tour. Magnus Kort won the polka-dot jersey in Denmark early in the 2022 Tour and then held onto it for a week before winning a mountain stage from a breakaway group to Megève. Powles hopes to do the same.

"I knew it was an opportunity, but you have to wait for it to come to you," Paules said.

"We were lucky and had the strength to go for it and I was happy to get it. I didn't want to gamble on anyone in the breakaway group, but I knew that if the breakaway group got caught before the climb, the first rider up would take the jersey."

Powles took the lead of the peloton at the base of the Vivero, then jumped out at the summit and held off Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus Wanty) to the finish.

"The moment I saw the banner showing KOM I just went for it. Luckily I got the points and it was enough to take the jersey," said Paules. He now leads Zimmermann by two points with a total of five points.

Powless and EF Education-Easy Post must decide whether Powless will enter the breakaway to defend the jersey or save his strength for a stage win.

Paules won the 2021 Clasica San Sebastián and could win stage 2 or another mountain stage at the Tour.

"It's a long way to Paris and this race could go many ways. I'm really happy to be able to wear the jersey in the Tour de France," Paules thanked.

"I felt really good and strong on the climbs.

"I would be happy to keep it, but I don't have too many points. I'm sure other riders would love to wear this hat. Let's see what happens on Sunday.

"Today's effort definitely paid off and I'm happy with the stage win, but it will be difficult to find a balance between the two. I think we have to decide one day at a time."