Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

I'll still wait for the rider who could beat Purito on a proper murito in peak shape.

You mean he was only in peak shape once in all the years he rode FW?
https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=10

I thought he was a very likable guy, but i wasn't really a fan though.

 

[Velolover2]

I think we need a proper definition of the murito. To me it's a brutal hill with mountain-like characteristics because of the gradients. Höll, Ézaro, Usartzako, I Cappuccini, Aia, Sormano, Montelupone are all good examples. Low-cadence slowburners. Climbs over 1.5 km but shorter than 4 km with an average gradient of at least 10%. Often with plenty of 20%+ sectors.

Mur De Huy isn't a pure a murito. It's a hard hill in the same category as the Redoute. You can still accelerate on those as a puncheur. Someone like Alaphilippe isn't the best on real muritos. Those are for the feather-weight climbers with a smooth kick like the Yates brothers.

1 km at 9-10% or 2km at 8-9% = hard hill.
1 km at 11-12% or 2 km at 10-11% = murito.

 

[Velolover2]

Just to put things into perspective:

Soft hill: 1 km at 5-6% / 2 km at 4-5%
Medium hill: 1 km at 7-8% / 2 km at 6-7%
Hard hill: 1 km at 9-10% / 2 km at 8-9%
Murito: 1 km at 11-12% / 2 km at 10-11%

I know TDF sometimes have sub-5% climbs at 1k catagorized as a cat 4 but those are more of a uphill drag IMO. At some point you can't call it a hill anymore.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Just to put things into perspective:

Soft hill: 1 km at 5-6% / 2 km at 4-5%
Medium hill: 1 km at 7-8% / 2 km at 6-7%
Hard hill: 1 km at 9-10% / 2 km at 8-9%
Murito: 1 km at 11-12% / 2 km at 10-11%

I know TDF sometimes have sub-5% climbs at 1k catagorized as a cat 4 but those are more of a uphill drag IMO. At some point you can't call it a hill anymore.

This reminds of the discussion during the 2016 Giro the commentators were having about all the different types of climbs and what constituted what. They had this discussion over the course of several stages. They basically talked about everything from a drag to a wall.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I'll still wait for the rider who could beat Purito on a proper murito in peak shape.

You mean he was only in peak shape once in all the years he rode FW?
https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=10

I thought he was a very likable guy, but i wasn't really a fan though.

That has also seemed a bit weird to me, he should have won in more times to be honest - BUT, as Velolover said, I don't categorize Huy as a proper murito. The really hard part is not long enough. Purito specialized on those 1-2 km climbs at ridiculous gradients such as the ultra-steep walls in T-A and Pais Vasco, and as he mentioned, a climb like Ezaro. Also need to mention that he did win on Huy in 2015 TdF.

So to be clear, I don't consider Valverde as a pure Muro specialist as Purito is since I don't consider Huy a proper murito.

 

[Bardamu]

No Valverde or Rasmussen as your UI? Need to get used to it again.

 

[JoeD1997]

Re:

Just sitting here alone and reminiscing on how great of a rider Purito was. I had completely lost the interest in cycling after the Tour in 2012, but the battle between Purito, Valverde and Contador had that Vuelta was epic despite its flaws. Purito should have won 2 GTs that year but ended up with 0.

I really miss him in the peloton, for sure he wasn't the most attacking rider, but an insanely great one trick pony with a lot of charm. I'll still wait for the rider who could beat Purito on a proper murito in peak shape.

My first GT (and road race in general) that I watched from start to finish was that 2012 Tour, and as a Brit, of course it was nice to see 7 stages, Yellow Jersey, Froome on podium. But that Vuelta was the race that made me love pro cycling. Seemed like most days there was a battle with Alberto, Purito and Bala. Awesome race, Purito was always a fave of mine. I was also gutted the day he lost the WC RR.

I think his final pro win, Sotres Cabrales in 2015 Vuelta, summed him up. Unstoppable once those gradients get really steep for prolonged periods. Beast

 

[Simurgh]

Purito was so likeable, that I could forgive him for basically being a one trick pony. And how insane he was, especially in la Vuelta '12, which wasn't my first GT (Tour 2009) I watched, but the one that made me fall in love with cycling in general, and evolve from being a July fan to being able to enjoy a 2.1 race with no big names. That three way battle between Purito, Contador and Valverde was on almost every day, and it was fun to see a slightly different remake in 2014. Now looking back, I am happy that Purito got his Tour podium as a slight consolation from missing out on Vuelta victory, but also sad that he was so close in 2015 again.. good man, great rider

 

[Valv.Piti]

I never felt he was particularly close in 2015 to be honest, but he was without a single doubt the strongest rider in the race in 2012. He could/shouve have won 5 stages at least - he was simply unstoppable. A few breaks and his stupid celebration in Arrate prevented him from cleaning house, altho 3 stages also is pretty great and Valverde did a complete masterpiece of a sprint on Gallina.

 

[Serpentin]

I got to see Purito in his last race in San Sebastian in 2016. He looked so happy, but man do I miss him. He should have raced the vuelta in 2016. He was in great shape. I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

 

[gunara]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

 

[Squire]

Forget about Huy. This is Purito's hill:

 

[Red Rick]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

If you think cycling has a problem, consider tennis fans when the Big 4 are definitively done

Cycling to me has always been much more about the races and events than about the individual athletes compared to many other sports.

 

[gunara]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

If you think cycling has a problem, consider tennis fans when the Big 4 are definitively done

Cycling to me has always been much more about the races and events than about the individual athletes compared to many other sports.

I think people tend to mature with time in the way they enjoy a sport, I was even more emotional in the early years it's embarassing. Cycling is not the first sport I follow, I was very late to it, and I can compare and realize that I haven't get to the stage of objectivity the way I enjoy, say, football and tennis.
Maybe the retirement of my early favorites help in that way, I can relax and enjoy cycling more actually.

 

[Blanco]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

If you think cycling has a problem, consider tennis fans when the Big 4 are definitively done

Cycling to me has always been much more about the races and events than about the individual athletes compared to many other sports.

That big 4 is in fact a big 3! That 4th guy isn't that big...

 

[Gigs_98]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

If you think cycling has a problem, consider tennis fans when the Big 4 are definitively done

Cycling to me has always been much more about the races and events than about the individual athletes compared to many other sports.

That big 4 is in fact a big 3! That 4th guy isn't that big...

Blanco was banned by Red Rick

 

[Serpentin]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

I have always been like this, I have favorite riders based on style and "Panache". Watching tour of turkey without someone to cheer for is fun but not the same way as when Purito was riding.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I lost a little bit of interest after him and Contador retired.

You're not the only one, and I'm sure we're not the only two. Hate to think that my interest in something is heavily based on some individuals' involvement in it, I remember once thought my uncle was weird because he stopped watching football after Roberto Baggio retired. But Alberto and Purito are like music of my youth, there are some lovable new musics but you don't have them blasting incessantly in your room anymore.

If you think cycling has a problem, consider tennis fans when the Big 4 are definitively done

Cycling to me has always been much more about the races and events than about the individual athletes compared to many other sports.

That big 4 is in fact a big 3! That 4th guy isn't that big...

Blanco was banned by Red Rick

:lol: :lol: :lol:

for talking back and correcting a mod

:lol:

But back on track. I'm the opposite, I like individual riders and than the race.

 

[gunara]

That big 4 is in fact a big 3! That 4th guy isn't that big...

Now I'm not even sure who the 4th guy was... Wawrinka or that other guy with 3 slams? Either way the number is closer to the likes of Delpo and Gaudio than to the big 3.
At best he's equal to Samu Sanchez among Spanish climbers born between Zubeldia and Dani Navarro.

 

[Koronin]

Purito crashed while riding today and is in the hospital. Sounds like he should be alright, but was admitted to the hospital.

Joaquim Rodríguez, accidentado en Andorra - Zikloland

Joaquim Rodríguez (1979) se ha llevado un buen susto por una caída en Vallnord, Andorra, en una salida en bicicleta de montaña. Afortunadamente, no sufre

www.zikloland.com

 

[Mayomaniac]

Purito crashed while riding today and is in the hospital. Sounds like he should be alright, but was admitted to the hospital.

Joaquim Rodríguez, accidentado en Andorra - Zikloland

Joaquim Rodríguez (1979) se ha llevado un buen susto por una caída en Vallnord, Andorra, en una salida en bicicleta de montaña. Afortunadamente, no sufre

www.zikloland.com

He crashed on a MTB ride.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Miss him so much. Who was that ultra Purito-fanboy on this forum, Arredondo or something like that? Lots of great discussions with the Contador fanboys (Flo, Red Rick and some even more fanatic) and me, Toby and some other dudes on the Valverde-bandwagon. Oh man, these Vueltas were so fun