Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, winner of this year's Giro d'Italia, has injured his shoulder and could miss the start of the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday.

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Carapaz, who was one of the leading contenders to win the third Grand Tour of the year in Spain, will make a decision on Friday whether to race after the 26-year-old crashed in training.

"Richard Carapaz's appearance in the race has been put in doubt by a crash last Sunday, which caused him a contusion to his right shoulder and several other bruises," Carapaz's team Movistar said in a statement on Thursday.

"A decision on his participation in the event will be taken, after pertinent assessments, on Thursday and Friday."

Carapaz was due be one of three Movistar leaders at the Vuelta, along with 2009 winner Alejandro Valverde and the Colombian Nairo Quintana, champion in 2016.

Carapaz will reportedly leave Movistar at the end of the year for British outfit Team Ineos.