Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[LaFlorecita]

I'm beginning to think that J rod may be a genuine Tour contender this year. I had written him off previously but his consistency recently has been incredible.

Although he will lose time to Froome and Contador in the TT, he seems to be the best climber in the Peleton just now. I just cant see any other GT contender that can distance him.

I'm sure Katusha have also learned from Fuente De and that any complacency has been eradicated.

Anyone else think his chances are looking good?

I think if Froome watches Alberto just a bit too much Purito will ride away to victory a bit like tour 2011 with Andy watching Berto even though he wasn't a threat anymore

 

[cineteq]

I'm beginning to think that J rod may be a genuine Tour contender this year. I had written him off previously but his consistency recently has been incredible.

No time bonuses, so his chance of winning is very slim.

 

[the asian]

You think he will lose the Tour as a result of the TT's?

Vuelta looks to be his best chance but agree that he could beat Wiggins and Nibali as well

That + No bonus seconds+ The tour climbs don't suit him much.

 

[Angliru]

I'm beginning to think that J rod may be a genuine Tour contender this year. I had written him off previously but his consistency recently has been incredible.

Although he will lose time to Froome and Contador in the TT, he seems to be the best climber in the Peleton just now. I just cant see any other GT contender that can distance him.

I'm sure Katusha have also learned from Fuente De and that any complacency has been eradicated.

Anyone else think his chances are looking good?

I was reading a really good report in the Australian RIDE magazine on the 2012 Vuelta with individual articles on the 4 primary gc guys and one article dedicated to the Fuente De stage. It was indicated that Contador knew of Purito's tendency to occasionally take rest days completely off the bike and as the ride leader at that time his opportunities to actually rest were pretty limited. This inside knowledge that Contador had combined with the circumstances as they were contributed to Purito's downfall. If he learns from his past mistakes and continues on his upward trajectory form and results wise I can see him winning a grand tour. He came awfully close in 2012 and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of decline. I'm doubtful though that he can win the Tour though.

 

[del1962]

I'm beginning to think that J rod may be a genuine Tour contender this year. I had written him off previously but his consistency recently has been incredible.

Although he will lose time to Froome and Contador in the TT, he seems to be the best climber in the Peleton just now. I just cant see any other GT contender that can distance him.

I'm sure Katusha have also learned from Fuente De and that any complacency has been eradicated.

Anyone else think his chances are looking good?

Of course he can challenge for the tour, however I am not sure he is a better climber than Froome, at least in mountain top finishes, better puncher climber though

 

[Red Rick]

I was reading a really good report in the Australian RIDE magazine on the 2012 Vuelta with individual articles on the 4 primary gc guys and one article dedicated to the Fuente De stage. It was indicated that Contador knew of Purito's tendency to occasionally take rest days completely off the bike and as the ride leader at that time his opportunities to actually rest were pretty limited. This inside knowledge that Contador had combined with the circumstances as they were contributed to Purito's downfall. If he learns from his past mistakes and continues on his upward trajectory form and results wise I can see him winning a grand tour. He came awfully close in 2012 and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of decline. I'm doubtful though that he can win the Tour though.

Cool story, turns out Contador isn't just a crazy attacker, but also an evil genius on a bike

 

[Afrank]

He can make the podium but he definitely won't win.

Should have gone for Giro,Vuelta, Worlds.

Would have had a decent chance of winning all 3.

Pretty much agree with this. I don't see him winning the Tour, especially with no bonus seconds.

However He'll definitely be contending for the podium I think, and likely a few stages. He won't win, but he'll be one of the major players that makes the race. He really should be targeting the Giro and Vuelta though. Those races just suit him and his strengths so much more.

 

[del1962]

Pretty much agree with this. I don't see him winning the Tour, especially with no bonus seconds.

However He'll definitely be contending for the podium I think, and likely a few stages. He won't win, but he'll be one of the major players that makes the race. He really should be targeting the Giro and Vuelta though. Those races just suit him and his strengths so much more.

I guess it is the lure of the Tour though, if he thinks he can win it, then he will go for it, and will not distracted by Giro.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

I guess it is the lure of the Tour though, if he thinks he can win it, then he will go for it, and will not distracted by Giro.

Yeah, he's surely third in line. If anything happens to Froome or Contador then he could be a Tour winner.

Most of the mountain finishes will be sky train oriented and he could take advantage by jumping in the last km. Unfortunately gaining 10-15 seconds each time will probably not be enough to negate TT losses.

I kind of hope he does it. He is in great form and can't have many years left at this level.

 

[icefire]

I was reading a really good report in the Australian RIDE magazine on the 2012 Vuelta with individual articles on the 4 primary gc guys and one article dedicated to the Fuente De stage. It was indicated that Contador knew of Purito's tendency to occasionally take rest days completely off the bike and as the ride leader at that time his opportunities to actually rest were pretty limited. This inside knowledge that Contador had combined with the circumstances as they were contributed to Purito's downfall. If he learns from his past mistakes and continues on his upward trajectory form and results wise I can see him winning a grand tour. He came awfully close in 2012 and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of decline. I'm doubtful though that he can win the Tour though.

His best chance is the Vuelta. This year parcourse is more or less like last year but with a flat stage after the second rest day.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah, he's surely third in line. If anything happens to Froome or Contador then he could be a Tour winner.

Most of the mountain finishes will be sky train oriented and he could take advantage by jumping in the last km. Unfortunately gaining 10-15 seconds each time will probably not be enough to negate TT losses.

I kind of hope he does it. He is in great form and can't have many years left at this level.

Just do last km attacks on every mtf and then if froome loses time because of a crash or mechanical he is the winner of the 2013 tour de france

 

[karlboss]

How do folk rate rodriguez' chances after the dauphine? I think he was within himself and is looking at a podium.

 

[nick101]

yup purito was doing a schleck and hiding his form at the dauphine. judging by the vuelta he could put froome in serious difficulty if his form is equal or even better than that of the vuelta. plus he has both a giro and vuelta in his legs from last year which will certainly advantage him. the ax-3 stage and the Annecy stage will suit him. he'll likely podium but definitely could crack froome allowing contador to win. I also notice that rodriguez attacks earlier than froome and has a much bigger acceleration and sprint. the tt will be his main downfall

 

[gooner]

Not so sure about Purito attacking further out than Froome. Purito is generally known for his kick towards the backend in the last km or two. Nothing really expansive.

In the Criterium International Froome attacked further out and if he didn't have such a huge lead over Contador after the TT in the Dauphine, he may have done something similar for all we know in the stage he won. In that stage he didn't have to and taking the final one he looked well within himself while doing all the pulling with Porte alongside him in trying to catch De Marchi to take the stage win.

 

[nick101]

yup froome will try that attack on at least one stage. but he won't be able to drop the likes of rogriguez and contador if they're on form because he doesn't have the surges like contador or rodriguez. but he has a good acceleration in the final km, better than contador I think. the ax-3 stage seems almost tailor made for rodriguez - a short steep finish. its only 8kms but that means that rodriguez will likely attack earlier. froome usually only attacks within the final 3kms. possibly due to the sky lead out, but I honestly doubt he has the ability to accelerate from 10kms out and stay away. froome is essentially wiggins with a decent acceleration

 

[Jelantik]

i wish purito taken the Giro. He would have won it. Maybe the lure of the mountainous TDF. I thought, the year when Cadel win, was also a mountainous one too. People said that was designed for Andy. (andy was worst than purito in ITT).

As I recall, purito isn't really type of long steady climb ala le tour. He is more to short, steep, punchy climb. Like everyone here, I don't see him winning it. He might be the protagonist of the race for sure. The problem is we don't know his form since he was pretty horrible at Dauphine. Maybe Lil' Richie was right, how can they make up the 2+ time lost in flat ITT in 3 weeks time?

 

[nick101]

in 2010 the tour was pretty much designed for andy, but in 2011 the tt allowed others to do well. yes the giro would've suited him better because of the short steep climbs to jafferau and tre clime laverdo. but rodriguez can climb well on long climbs on the stelvio last year he did well and he's proven that on the longer climbs in the giro and vuelta. he has also improved in the tt, so I expect him to only lose a couple of minutes in the tt's. he has a better acceleration than froome so could gain up to 30 seconds on several of the stages if he attacks in the final kms. at the dauphine he was doing a schleck and hiding his form. yes a podium is possible for purito, but he won't beat froome.

 

[Afrank]

Not really sure about Purito's chances at this point myself. He didn't really do that much in the Dauphine. He was in the mix of course, so his form isn't looking terrible, but it's not like it looks outstanding either. Hopefully he was just riding it for prep and to get a read on the other guys and didn't do anything on purpose. I think Purito could play a important part in putting Sky in difficulty. And I think he knows that he can't win with his final hundred meter attacks and so will try going from further out on some stages.

 

[nick101]

could see valverde, rodriguez and contador conspiring against froome? rodriguez has done long range attacks like on Grossglockner at the 2011 giro. but everyone knows his dangerous acceleration so he's immediately marked and chased down until the last km where the time losses to him are minimal

 

[Afrank]

i wish purito taken the Giro. He would have won it. Maybe the lure of the mountainous TDF. I thought, the year when Cadel win, was also a mountainous one too. People said that was designed for Andy. (andy was worst than purito in ITT).

As I recall, purito isn't really type of long steady climb ala le tour. He is more to short, steep, punchy climb. Like everyone here, I don't see him winning it. He might be the protagonist of the race for sure. The problem is we don't know his form since he was pretty horrible at Dauphine. Maybe Lil' Richie was right, how can they make up the 2+ time lost in flat ITT in 3 weeks time?

Not too sure about that, not with Nibali's improved TTing and stages being canceled/altered. Impossible to know for sure of course, but just my opinion. He definitely should have done the Giro instead though, he would have at least podiumed and got a couple stages. Plus he should have done it just for the fact that it would have helped him come into the Vuelta fresher.

 

[Pentacycle]

Not really sure about Purito's chances at this point myself. He didn't really do that much in the Dauphine. He was in the mix of course, so his form isn't looking terrible, but it's not like it looks outstanding either. Hopefully he was just riding it for prep and to get a read on the other guys and didn't do anything on purpose. I think Purito could play a important part in putting Sky in difficulty. And I think he knows that he can't win with his final hundred meter attacks and so will try going from further out on some stages.

It's just not good for the rest of his season to be in good shape in the Dauphiné. He'll still compete in the Tour and Vuelta, after which he targets the WC. It would not be sensible to go all-out for the Tour without saving energy for the rest of the season. I hope he still does a good Tour though.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Not really sure about Purito's chances at this point myself. He didn't really do that much in the Dauphine. He was in the mix of course, so his form isn't looking terrible, but it's not like it looks outstanding either. Hopefully he was just riding it for prep and to get a read on the other guys and didn't do anything on purpose. I think Purito could play a important part in putting Sky in difficulty. And I think he knows that he can't win with his final hundred meter attacks and so will try going from further out on some stages.

At Katusha the Spaniards are joined at the hip. Seeing Moreno doing very well at CdD would indicate J-Rod will be ready for the Tour imo.

Of course to make any kind of impact in July, J-Rod will need to bring his Vuelta '12 form. I think he will.

 

[cineteq]

At Katusha the Spaniards are joined at the hip. Seeing Moreno doing very well at CdD would indicate J-Rod will be ready for the Tour imo.

Of course to make any kind of impact in July, J-Rod will need to bring his Vuelta '12 form. I think he will.

100% agree here. This is the race Purito lives for, at least this year.

 

[richard_91]

he Critérium du Dauphiné proved a disaster for Rodríguez, who lost three minutes to Froome on a flat, power course.

So much so, that he’s ditched a new, wind-tunnel tested time trial position to return to his older, at least more familiar position ahead of the Tour.

“I was terrible. There is no excuse. It was back to the terrible Purito in the time trials,” said Rodríguez, referring to the Dauphiné. “My only consolation is that it won’t be so flat in the Tour. … I couldn’t adapt to the new position. My body was too far forward. For the Tour, I will return to my old position with a few tweaks.”

From an article on Velonews

Seems stupid to have completely wasted the windtunnel testing, surely he could have said it wasnt right after first doing it allowing for time to re-adjust properly

 

[cineteq]

From an article on Velonews

Seems stupid to have completely wasted the windtunnel testing, surely he could have said it wasnt right after first doing it allowing for time to re-adjust properly

how's that a waste? a typical 'in hindsight' thought