Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[richard_91]

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

I dont know when the tunnel testing took place, but what I ment was surely he would have realised it wasnt comfortable before now, so surely he should have spoken up while testing or surely he would have realised before now allowing the time to potentially do extra testing

 

[Taxus4a]

Purito could be the best climber in this TdF, maybe no in Mont Ventoux, but in general, but... if Hesjedal could beat him in the Giro, he could do it again here.

So he is a serious candidate to the podium if he can climb as last year, but there are several like him.

 

[all_in]

Purito could be the best climber in this TdF, maybe no in Mont Ventoux, but in general, but... if Hesjedal could beat him in the Giro, he could do it again here.

So he is a serious candidate to the podium if he can climb as last year, but there are several like him.

Or maybe the best uphill sprinter.I don't think he will do long range attacks.Probably he will stay in Froome wheel until 1km banner and than jump for stage and 5-10s.If he will limit the losses well in the first TT probably will be on podium on Champs.

 

[nick101]

In relation to rodriguez's tt position, he obviously doesn't do much tting so the fact that he hadn't adapted earlier in the year wouldn't have been a surprise for him. He would've thought that if he left it til around the dauphine to do more tt'ing and fully adapt to his position, then it'd be fine. But his position made him much worse so clearly it wasn't right and he wasn't able to adapt. He just didn't realise earlier. It's too late now to change his position radically

 

[Taxus4a]

Or maybe the best uphill sprinter.I don't think he will do long range attacks.Probably he will stay in Froome wheel until 1km banner and than jump for stage and 5-10s.If he will limit the losses well in the first TT probably will be on podium on Champs.

If he could do that in Ax 3 Domaines or Alp D Huez would be difficull to say he is not the best climber..
If the fight start from far away of the finish and he fade, I couldnt consider the best climber just for a day that beate Froome.

But he has been very strong in hard stages in the Giro, and the stage of Cuitu Negru in La Vuelta had before two hards first category climbs.
I bet he some day will be the best climber, but not in general.

 

[Taxus4a]

Looks like he is going to be a boom

 

[webbie146]

Looks like he is going to be a boom

Hahah that's awesome!

 

[Angliru]

I love Purito's sense of humor. Makes me root for him more.

 

[saneguy]

Dont think Purito can make it to the podium. Field is too deep this time around for him to do well. Maybe he will do well in a few stages...but nothing more...

 

[nick101]

Dont think Purito can make it to the podium. Field is too deep this time around for him to do well. Maybe he will do well in a few stages...but nothing more...

No way, I disagree, he's the most likely rider to come third. Him and valverde, at this stage, are the main contenders for third place. He's in his best years now so imo opinion he can't be discounted, coming off the back of two podiums at GT's - 2nd in the Giro and 3rd in the Vuelta. This year is probably his best chance of a podium ever in the TDF - the summit finishes are the steepest in recent years and the TT'ing is the lowest with a hilly TT also, where his time losses will be lower than a flat TT. There are 3 summit finishes that average over 8%: Ax-3, Alpe d'Huez and Semnoz. Ventoux could also suit him due to it's extended sections of over 10%.

 

[saneguy]

No way, I disagree, he's the most likely rider to come third. Him and valverde, at this stage, are the main contenders for third place. He's in his best years now so imo opinion he can't be discounted, coming off the back of two podiums at GT's - 2nd in the Giro and 3rd in the Vuelta. This year is probably his best chance of a podium ever in the TDF - the summit finishes are the steepest in recent years and the TT'ing is the lowest with a hilly TT also, where his time losses will be lower than a flat TT. There are 3 summit finishes that average over 8%: Ax-3, Alpe d'Huez and Semnoz. Ventoux could also suit him due to it's extended sections of over 10%.

Agree the route this year at the Tour suits him much more. But still dont think he will be such a big threat. Far too many other guys that will do better. After his performance at Giro - I would surely tip Evans to be in much better shape than Purito.

 

[nick101]

Agree the route this year at the Tour suits him much more. But still dont think he will be such a big threat. Far too many other guys that will do better. After his performance at Giro - I would surely tip Evans to be in much better shape than Purito.

He will definitely be a threat, there is no question about that. Evans has a giro in his legs, he will be tired, won't have recovered enough and hasn't raced in over a month. Rodriguez came second in the Giro in a much harder route and stronger field so that point about evans is null. Evans should've come at least second this year. I'm curious as to who you think could beat an on form Rodriguez then??

 

[Pentacycle]

Dont think Purito can make it to the podium. Field is too deep this time around for him to do well. Maybe he will do well in a few stages...but nothing more...

Exactly. Many guys here say he's improved a lot over the last couple of years, but I disagree. I think he'll be just as strong as in the '10 Tour, last year was more or less a fluke. He'll contend for the stage win on a few occasions, but he'll have some bad days, knocking him out of the top 5.

 

[saneguy]

I'm curious as to who you think could beat an on form Rodriguez then??

Evans - even though you disagree
Porte - even though Sky's main focus is Froome, Porte is exactly in the same position this year as Froome was last year to Wiggins.
Valverde - yes I do think he could do better than Purito.

Guess we will have our answers soon enough

 

[nick101]

Exactly. Many guys here say he's improved a lot over the last couple of years, but I disagree. I think he'll be just as strong as in the '10 Tour, last year was more or less a fluke. He'll contend for the stage win on a few occasions, but he'll have some bad days, knocking him out of the top 5.

How can you prove it was a fluke?? This year at times he's shown similar form- like when he out smarted froome on a stage that would never suit him. I say he has progressed as a rider and has finally reached his best years. Your also forgetting that he came second in a giro with a high quality field also. He proved us wrong about being bad on long climbs, e.g. thee Stelvio. I can't think of many riders at all that could out climb him at all. For me it's how he does in the TT's that decides his top 5 result

 

[saneguy]

How can you prove it was a fluke?? This year at times he's shown similar form- like when he out smarted froome on a stage that would never suit him. I say he has progressed as a rider and has finally reached his best years. Your also forgetting that he came second in a giro with a high quality field also. He proved us wrong about being bad on long climbs, e.g. thee Stelvio. I can't think of many riders at all that could out climb him at all. For me it's how he does in the TT's that decides his top 5 result

I agree he is having the year of his life but thats not still convincing enough for him to contend for a podium at the tour. Plus look at how well Evans did at the MTT in Giro - only 30 seconds down to Wiggins. That was a super effort.

 

[nick101]

I agree he is having the year of his life but thats not still convincing enough for him to contend for a podium at the tour. Plus look at how well Evans did at the MTT in Giro - only 30 seconds down to Wiggins. That was a super effort.

I'm pretty sure Wiggins left the race before the MTT. Are you meaning Nibali?? As for Evans, he struggled in the final week and lost form, plus he's getting old and his best years are behind him. Imo next year will be his last year he has the form to compete for a podium at a GT.

 

[saneguy]

I'm pretty sure Wiggins left the race before the MTT. Are you meaning Nibali?? As for Evans, he struggled in the final week and lost form, plus he's getting old and his best years are behind him. Imo next year will be his last year he has the form to compete for a podium at a GT.

I was actually refering to the first TT. Wasnt exactly a MTT but a steep finish. Wiggins was second on that. Dowsett won it. Evans did pretty well there.

While I agree he is old and losing steam but the Giro was pretty tough. Especially the last week. Some dreadful conditions with snow, rains etc. And I dont think he really struggled a lot in the last week. Nibali killed it in the MTT and gained 2.36 on Evans. Thats when I think he simply decided to finish the Giro. No chance he could have gained much on stage 20. So why push? Esp when you know you are again competing in a GT in June?

Lot of subjectivity - lets wait and watch, shall we? - am not against Purito but just feel he may struggle for the podium place. And to be honest - am not so sure about Contador being as competitive either. But then he is Contador - so never know with him...

 

[nick101]

I was actually refering to the first TT. Wasnt exactly a MTT but a steep finish. Wiggins was second on that. Dowsett won it. Evans did pretty well there.

While I agree he is old and losing steam but the Giro was pretty tough. Especially the last week. Some dreadful conditions with snow, rains etc. And I dont think he really struggled a lot in the last week. Nibali killed it in the MTT and gained 2.36 on Evans. Thats when I think he simply decided to finish the Giro. No chance he could have gained much on stage 20. So why push? Esp when you know you are again competing in a GT in June?

Lot of subjectivity - lets wait and watch, shall we? - am not against Purito but just feel he may struggle for the podium place. And to be honest - am not so sure about Contador being as competitive either. But then he is Contador - so never know with him...

Oh that TT. Wiggins would've won that if he hadn't had a mechanical that cost him 15 seconds.

Nibali was on fire that Giro. He beat Di Luca's record up Tre Cimi Laveredo and we all know why Di Luca was so fast on that climb *cough cough* . To lose 2.36, Evans must have been losing form as i said, or given up before then, however he was in a good position for second before the MTT, so it wouldn't make sense to give up at that point.

It's going to be an interesting Tour. We'll all know by the end who's right about Purito and whether Contador is able to find his old form

 

[Pentacycle]

How can you prove it was a fluke?? This year at times he's shown similar form- like when he out smarted froome on a stage that would never suit him. I say he has progressed as a rider and has finally reached his best years. Your also forgetting that he came second in a giro with a high quality field also. He proved us wrong about being bad on long climbs, e.g. thee Stelvio. I can't think of many riders at all that could out climb him at all. For me it's how he does in the TT's that decides his top 5 result

In the 2010 Tour he was better than Hesjedal, if he hadn't lost time on the stage to Brussels he'd have been 1 minute ahead. GT-wise, Hesjedal has progressed more significantly than Purito, since then. Rodriguez true leap lies in his classics results.

 

[nick101]

In the 2010 Tour he was better than Hesjedal, if he hadn't lost time on the stage to Brussels he'd have been 1 minute ahead. GT-wise, Hesjedal has progressed more significantly than Purito, since then. Rodriguez true leap lies in his classics results.

Yes Rodriguez may not have improved as much in relation to his abilites, however the reason why he did so well at the Giro and the Vuelta was because he became more consistent and improved his TT'ing; imo more so than Hesjadel. For me, his season in 2012 was a long time coming. He's been improving in consistency at GT's since the 2010 Tour/Vuelta

 

[manafana]

Purito had his chances, its a big commitment the grand tours for him when he can win doing all other races as hes a great stage winner.

 

[sienna]

Big fan of this rider – hope he does well in Le Tour.

 

[hiero2]

Big fan of this rider – hope he does well in Le Tour.

Given his new haircut, I'm thinking I'll be sitting in his cheering section in the next couple weeks. I like his attitude. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-convinced-about-his-tour-de-france-chances?ns_campaign=news&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=cyclingnews&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

but the haircut makes me think of Cosmo Kramer:

http://kootation.com/cosmo-kramer/angelfire.com*ca3*seinfeld4*images*kramer3.jpg/

And, so as not to get catty about it - I'll just wish him luck with that 'do. It's his legs that will be doing the talkin' anyway.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Entering Rodriguez, the rock star:

Having looked in cards, the odd glass bowl and a couple of dead fish tells me this man will be the best climber in the tour.