• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Can Rodriguez win the Vuelta?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar

Can he win?

  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
spalco

spalco

Feb 1, 2011
9,402
2,273
20,680
Visit site
There've been a bunch of threads like this already, but I'd really be interested in a clean poll-result to this question.

I didn't take him seriously as a GC contender until a couple days ago, but he's looking better and better. Big TT coming up obviously, but if he loses less than 2 minutes on Contador/Froom (whoever is better) who knows, eh?...
 
CasperVg

CasperVg

Aug 29, 2011
239
0
9,030
Visit site
If the Vuelta keeps progressing like this (lots of actions but in the end very small gaps) he certainly has a chance, because he's arguably the best mountain-sprinter amongst the 4 contenders and is able to take a lot of bonus seconds that way. The ITT might be a problem, but it's rather hilly and his ITT has definitely improved this season (see final Giro TT) so I don't think he'll lose minutes. So if he stays consistent and doesn't have any big breakdowns in the final few weeks, he can definitely win IMO.
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
11,703
4
0
Visit site
CasperVg said:
If the Vuelta keeps progressing like this (lots of actions but in the end very small gaps) he certainly has a chance, because he's arguably the best mountain-sprinter amongst the 4 contenders and is able to take a lot of bonus seconds that way. The ITT might be a problem, but it's rather hilly and his ITT has definitely improved this season (see final Giro TT) so I don't think he'll lose minutes. So if he stays consistent and doesn't have any big breakdowns in the final few weeks, he can definitely win IMO.
Click to expand...

Ok with Giro ITT he didn't lose much against hesjedal.

But Contador and Froome are from another level, just saying.

And when they'll focus on purito he'll drop eventually, he already dropped a couple of times but they didn't pay much attention to him.
 
SafeBet

SafeBet

Sep 2, 2011
16,320
10,930
28,180
Visit site
Purito has turned into a reliable GT contender at age 32. He was too inconsistent with his ITT and would always drop during an important MTF in his previous GTs.
This year he's been a much better time trialist, so I don't believe he will be too far from the roja after wednesday.
BUT one thing must be noted about Giro 12: Liquigas fake tempo in high mountain stages waiting for the last climb to get things started was perfect for Purito.

My prediction:
- race hard from the beginning in stages with multiple climbs (I know there are just two) and he'll eventually fade.
- soft pedal until the last climb hoping to drop him and he'll probably hang on.
 
SafeBet

SafeBet

Sep 2, 2011
16,320
10,930
28,180
Visit site
Miburo said:
Ok with Giro ITT he didn't lose much against hesjedal.

But Contador and Froome are from another level, just saying.
Click to expand...

He lost less than 2 minutes to Pinotti (who was drafting a motorbike) in that time trial. I wouldn't say post-dq Contador is on a whole different level compared to Pinotti. Froome maybe.
 
hrotha

hrotha

Jun 10, 2010
19,705
1,698
25,680
Visit site
Miburo said:
Ok with Giro ITT he didn't lose much against hesjedal.

But Contador and Froome are from another level, just saying.

And when they'll focus on purito he'll drop eventually, he already dropped a couple of times but they didn't pay much attention to him.
Click to expand...
Thinking "we'll drop him later" is terrible tactics. That made Hesjedal win the Giro.

Purito has had the best build-up for the Vuelta of all 4 contenders, in theory, and the course suits him perfectly.
 
CasperVg

CasperVg

Aug 29, 2011
239
0
9,030
Visit site
hrotha said:
Thinking "we'll drop him later" is terrible tactics. That made Hesjedal win the Giro.

Purito has had the best build-up for the Vuelta of all 4 contenders, in theory, and the course suits him perfectly.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'm thinking. We'll have to see how Purito does on the long climbs though.
 
jens_attacks

jens_attacks

Sep 8, 2009
15,306
2
22,485
Visit site
the answer is yes
if the others don't improve after the rest day and purito stays like that,he will take the overall win.
leo piepoli is a very good coach i've heard so purito definitely improved a little in time-trial,he won't lose much especially with that climb in it.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
Visit site
jens_attacks said:
the answer is yes
if the others don't improve after the rest day and purito stays like that,he will take the overall win.
leo piepoli is a very good coach i've heard so purito definitely improved a little in time-trial,he won't lose much especially with that climb in it.
Click to expand...

So you went from Alberto domination to Froome domination to Purito domination. What's next, Noval domination?
 
maxmartin

maxmartin

May 19, 2011
4,857
2
0
Visit site
No way
He will lose at least 1:45 to Froom in TT. And high mountain is not really his cup of tea. He will have to ride very defensively just like in the Giro but opponents are much stronger. And he usually will have a bad day in the MTF. I think he and Valverde will fight for third place.
 
jens_attacks

jens_attacks

Sep 8, 2009
15,306
2
22,485
Visit site
LaFlorecita said:
So you went from Alberto domination to Froome domination to Purito domination. What's next, Noval domination?
Click to expand...

until now,alberto and froome didn't show they can dominate at all.sad stuff
purito of course can't dominate,he can just steal bonus seconds everywhere
noval is another story,he dominates the breakfast table
 
the asian

the asian

Jan 20, 2011
5,037
19
17,510
Visit site
jens_attacks said:
the answer is yes
if the others don't improve after the rest day and purito stays like that,he will take the overall win.
leo piepoli is a very good coach i've heard so purito definitely improved a little in time-trial,he won't lose much especially with that climb in it.
Click to expand...

Is Leonardo Piepoli of Saunier Duval fame Purito's coach?:eek:

As for the Question, I think he will podium, but not be on the top.
Should have his customary bad day in the high mountains.
As for the ITT, I think he won't lose much time as most people think. He seems to have improved his ITT, and the hill in the middle should help him.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
45,171
617
24,680
Visit site
maxmartin said:
No way
He will lose at least 1:45 to Froom in TT. And high mountain is not really his cup of tea. He will have to ride very defensively just like in the Giro but opponents are much stronger. And he usually will have a bad day in the MTF. I think he and Valverde will fight for third place.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what everyone thought about Evans in the 2011 Tour and look what happened. Alberto better not underestimate Purito or he's gonna lose this thing.
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
11,703
4
0
Visit site
hrotha said:
Thinking "we'll drop him later" is terrible tactics. That made Hesjedal win the Giro.

Purito has had the best build-up for the Vuelta of all 4 contenders, in theory, and the course suits him perfectly.
Click to expand...

Purito already dropped a few times in this vuelta and Froome/Contador are from another league than the ones in the giro.
 
Miburo

Miburo

Jul 29, 2012
11,703
4
0
Visit site
LaFlorecita said:
This is exactly what everyone thought about Evans in the 2011 Tour and look what happened. Alberto better not underestimate Purito or he's gonna lose this thing.
Click to expand...

Well right now he's really only concerned with Froome but I think at some point purito will crack.

That's what AC also thinks i'm assuming and besides there's still the TT.
 
the asian

the asian

Jan 20, 2011
5,037
19
17,510
Visit site
Miburo said:
Well right now he's really only concerned with Froome but I think at some point purito will crack.

That's what AC also thinks i'm assuming and besides there's still the TT.
Click to expand...

Purito didn't do too well on Bola in 2010. Even Nibali out-climbed him. However the only problem is, it's the penultimate stage.
Isn't Cuitu Negru a new climb? Remember reading a somewhere that it's called the Asturian Bola. I think Purito will lose some time to AC there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom