classicomano said:
Rodriguez said himself he will go into an early breakway if its a big one, if not he will control and then unleash on the first cat climb. Then rocket to the finish to get his stage win.
That's a bit presumptuous because if he attacks in the Palaquit, chances are some guys are going to take his wheel, and if they are reasonnably high in the standings, Astana and others will start controlling.
I would assume rather that the goal is to ensure that the breakaway can't get the first climb cat AND the HC arrival, if the breakaway goes till the end, a guy like De Marchi or Kadri could get 60 points if he wins, and if 3 or 4 guys from the breakaway finish ahead of the bunch + Purito finishes just 5 or 6th in the bunch (which sounds credible), than he gets measly points (8 or 4 if 9th or 10th at the top of Chamrousse)
But on the other hand if he ensure that the breakaway gets caught up and he finishes 5 or 6th of the stage he then gets 24 or 20 points for example, already way more than what Kadri or De Marchi would get from the first cat (Palaquit).
Contrast that with tommorrow where Risoul is only a first cat so you only get 20 points, but Lautaret can give you 10 points and Izoard 25. This means that for Purito it is better of to save energy for the last climb today, staying in the bunch, ensuring that the breakaway gets caught and doing his best with the best, and to go on the attack tomorrow, even if it means stopping his effort after Izoard if it appears like his chance of winning at Risoul are two low because the bunch is too close.
So all in all a clever defensive strategy from Purito, with a well analysed roadbook.