Joaquim 'Purito' Rodriguez Discussion thread

[movingtarget]

That's what I thought. Then you have Wiggins and Nibali saying they'd rather do the Giro.

According to Sky, Wiggins wants to win all three Tours before he retires. He has his chance in the Giro without Contador's presence. I see nothing wrong with that if that is his aim. As for Nibali does anyone believe he can beat Contador at the Tour ? Although he will also have a problem beating Wiggins I think at the Giro. I think a lot of riders will be unsure which race to choose. The Tour route will decide it I suppose.

 

[cineteq]

According to Sky, Wiggins wants to win all three Tours before he retires. He has his chance in the Giro without Contador's presence. I see nothing wrong with that if that is his aim. As for Nibali does anyone believe he can beat Contador at the Tour ?

According to your logic, nobody can't beat Contador, thus nobody should participate in the Tour. If Nibali can't, then who can? Re: Wiggins should ride the Tour and prove himself, as the defending champion, against the best. He and Sky should stop talking nonsense about him wanting to win all GTs.

 

[Miburo]

According to your logic, nobody can't beat Contador, thus nobody should participate in the Tour. If Nibali can't, then who can? Re: Wiggins should ride the Tour and prove himself, as the defending champion, against the best. He and Sky should stop talking nonsense about him wanting to win all GTs.

Why would Sky that? They're not stupid, they've no chance against Contador in top shape, no one has.

He hasn't lost a GT since 2007. Granted you've the tour 2011 but he had so much bad luck there and he still rode very aggresive after a very very HARD giro. Look what Froome did in the vuelta this year, shows you one more time how impressive Contador actually was in that tour.

Unless Contador breaks something, no way. HELL NO they've chance. They'll never say it but even the delivery boy of Wiggins's food knows it.

 

[cineteq]

Why would Sky that? They're not stupid, they've no chance against Contador in top shape, no one has.

Same logic as the previous poster? Then Prud'homme should hand the 2013 Tour title Contador without even being presented. Wake up buddy, Contador could have easily lost La Vuelta if it wasn't for a confluence of events.

 

[ILovecycling]

Same logic as the previous poster? Then Prud'homme should hand the 2013 Tour title Contador without even being presented. Wake up buddy, Contador could have easily lost La Vuelta if it wasn't for a confluence of events.

Only Schleck or Froome can beat Alberto at Tour '13.I know that.You know that

 

[cineteq]

Only Schleck or Froome can beat Alberto at Tour '13.I know that.You know that

Schleck, Froome??? You sound so much like one of those: July Only Fans.

 

[ILovecycling]

Schleck, Froome??? You sound so much like one of those: July Only Fans.

Hahaha...maybe I sound but Im not one of them...so ok,who is better favourite to beat Alberto in next years Tour?I am listening

 

[movingtarget]

According to your logic, nobody can't beat Contador, thus nobody should participate in the Tour. If Nibali can't, then who can? Re: Wiggins should ride the Tour and prove himself, as the defending champion, against the best. He and Sky should stop talking nonsense about him wanting to win all GTs.

No one is unbeatable but Contador will be the hot favourite. Anything can happen and I would like to see others push him. Andy, Froome, Rodriguez in their best form will be good but Nibali, Gesink VDB, Evans I think would be in the next tier of riders. Maybe even Rolland as well. If Wiggins wants to ride the Giro, why not, it will still be a good race. Although I would have liked to see Wiggins riding in support of Froome at the Tour and it definitely would have benefited Froome. Sky have the depth to do well in both Tours with their quality domestiques but Wiggins riding for Froome would have been even better. Nibali is still young so there is time for improvement. Contador won the Vuelta in style with limited racing kms in his legs. Although the Katusha disaster on one stage was unexpected. I hope Rodriguez can do well after riding so well in the Giro and Vuelta.

 

[cineteq]

No one is unbeatable but Contador will be the hot favourite. Anything can happen and I would like to see others push him. Andy, Froome, Rodriguez in their best form will be good but Nibali, Gesink VDB, Evans I think would be in the next tier of riders. Maybe even Rolland as well. If Wiggins wants to ride the Giro, why not, it will still be a good race. Although I would have liked to see Wiggins riding in support of Froome at the Tour and it definitely would have benefited Froome. Sky have the depth to do well in both Tours with their quality domestiques but Wiggins riding for Froome would have been even better. Nibali is still young so there is time for improvement. Contador won the Vuelta in style with limited racing kms in his legs. Although the Katusha disaster on one stage was unexpected. I hope Rodriguez can do well after riding so well in the Giro and Vuelta.

Ok, that's more like it, good point. +1

More and more it looks like Wiggins will ride the Giro. Not happy with that, but I guess I always want to see the best GC riders battling it out in the Tour.

 

[Alpehue]

I expect Contador to be back allmost as strong as 2009. And with the team he has around him now... Well i dont see who would be able to match that.

 

[movingtarget]

I expect Contador to be back allmost as strong as 2009. And with the team he has around him now... Well i dont see who would be able to match that.

I would be surprised if he was that dominant. Contador was the freshest rider at the the Vuelta. Valverde and Froome came straight out of the Tour and Rodriguez has ridden the Giro. Add to that the brain fade by Katusha on one stage and daring tactics by Contador. I think it could be a different story with all riders hitting the Tour as their first grand tour for the year. I predict that the Tour will be a hard fought race like the Vuelta. I don't expect big time gaps for the top three riders. But there is no doubt Contador's team will be stronger.

 

[Alpehue]

I would be surprised if he was that dominant. Contador was the freshest rider at the the Vuelta. Valverde and Froome came straight out of the Tour and Rodriguez has ridden the Giro. Add to that the brain fade by Katusha on one stage and daring tactics by Contador. I think it could be a different story with all riders hitting the Tour as their first grand tour for the year. I predict that the Tour will be a hard fought race like the Vuelta. I don't expect big time gaps for the top three riders. But there is no doubt Contador's team will be stronger.

All valid points, but also remember that Contador came more or less straight form a 2 years ban (Well 6 months), I think its fair to assume he will be stronger as well with the prober preperation.

 

[LaFlorecita]

All valid points, but also remember that Contador came more or less straight form a 2 years ban (Well 6 months), I think its fair to assume he will be stronger as well with the prober preperation.

Actually 12 months

 

[Alpehue]

Actually 12 months

Was it?, i seem to remember it as 6 months.. but considering your countdown i expect you to know better then i do

 

[cineteq]

Was it?, i seem to remember it as 6 months.. but considering your countdown i expect you to know better then i do

IIRC San Luis was his last race before Eneco.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Was it?, i seem to remember it as 6 months.. but considering your countdown i expect you to know better then i do

It was 6 months but he only rode San Luis and 1 day Mallorca between August 2011 and August 2012 so actually it's more like 12 months

 

[Cookster15]

All valid points, but also remember that Contador came more or less straight form a 2 years ban (Well 6 months), I think its fair to assume he will be stronger as well with the prober preperation.

Maybe, but why was he so bad in the World's TT (I must have missed the discussion on this) ? Was he sick because with the Vuelta in his legs he had racing miles & condition. He should have been very strong yet instead he dropped 2 1/2 minutes to Martin

 

[Walkman]

It was 6 months but he only rode San Luis and 1 day Mallorca between August 2011 and August 2012 so actually it's more like 12 months

No, it's more like 6 months. Or you could say it's 12 months, but then I'd say almost every rider in the peloton had a 6 months ban as well. Please be objective.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Maybe, but why was he so bad in the World's TT (I must have missed the discussion on this) ? Was he sick because with the Vuelta in his legs he had racing miles & condition. He should have been very strong yet instead he dropped 2 1/2 minutes to Martin

He just didn't feel well.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No, it's more like 6 months. Or you could say it's 12 months, but then I'd say almost every rider in the peloton had a 6 months ban as well. Please be objective.

Omg

 

[roundabout]

Contador couldn't race for 6 months when others could. So it's a 6 month ban.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador couldn't race for 6 months when others could. So it's a 6 month ban.

Of course but he didn't race for 12 months.

 

[Walkman]

Of course but he didn't race for 12 months.

Well then, don't correct someone saying he came of a 6 months ban and try to insinuate that he actually came from a 12 months ban since that is flat out incorrect.

 

[roundabout]

Ookay. Let's include the months when there is no racing in Europe and the months when Contador doesn't usually race.

Omg, he didn't race for 12 months!111

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well then, don't correct someone saying he came of a 6 months ban and try to insinuate that he actually came from a 12 months ban since that is flat out incorrect.

He officially came back from a 2 year ban. But what I said is that it was effectively a 12 month ban. Stop twisting my words.

Ookay. Let's include the months when there is no racing in Europe and the months when Contador doesn't usually race.

Omg, he didn't race for 12 months!111

Are you seriously unable to understand that it's harder to come back from 12 months with no racing than from 6? He always comes back after 6 months and it never gives him trouble.