Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

With Porte and Jrod, the Giro already have two topclass riders. Together with Valverde, and the familiar Italians like Pozzovivo, Pellizotti, Basso, Scarponi and Henao (Colombian ), you already have a strong field for Giro standards.

Is Ryder doing the Giro? Don't think he will win but might be up there

 

[Afrank]

Is Ryder doing the Giro? Don't think he will win but might be up there

Garmin, iirc, is gonna have Martin lead Giro, Talansky Tour, and Ryder Vuelta.

 

[Arredondo]

Garmin, iirc, is gonna have Martin lead Giro, Talansky Tour, and Ryder Vuelta.

Yeah, forgot about Dan.

Martin, Porte, Purito and Piti. Looking forward to the Giro

 

[greenedge]

Evans is clearly past it. If the key moutain stages were not cancelled, he would have not finished in Giro podium.

Pozzovivo or Niemiec are good for a Top 5, but will never be good enough to challenge for the top honours of GT.

I think Pozzovivo could get a podium- whether or not that is challenging depends.

Give Evans a bit more time- he did only start preparing for it with little notice. Also the last stage he had that "Mechanincal" (put it in quotes because some disagree) that cost him.

 

[Peter von]

I think Pozzovivo could get a podium- whether or not that is challenging depends.

Give Evans a bit more time- he did only start preparing for it with little notice. Also the last stage he had that "Mechanincal" (put it in quotes because some disagree) that cost him.

Very true about Evans i was very surprised how strong he was in the Giro considering he planned on doing the Tour and was supposed to be in extremely bad form, that was why he rode the giro according to him and team.

Pinot shouldn't be counted out either, he could be one of the best climbers in the giro and it seems he is very willing to work on his weaknesses.

 

[movingtarget]

Evans is clearly past it. If the key moutain stages were not cancelled, he would have not finished in Giro podium.

Pozzovivo or Niemiec are good for a Top 5, but will never be good enough to challenge for the top honours of GT.

Dan Martin is good on longer climbs, however he lacks recovery ( even Vaughters admits so and Dan admit so ) so if hes going its more for the stages and KOM maybe.

Ullissi is no GC contender in a GT at all yet. Neither is Duarte.

It's between Porte vs Purito vs Valverde/Quintana

Nibali clearly would have increased his lead if all the Giro stages were ridden in their entirety but I still think the podium would have been up for grabs. There was not much between the next four or five riders. I think the weather effected some more than others and Evans lost most of his time in the second TT. I think on paper Porte is the rider to beat in the Giro. As for Valverde, Evans, Rodriguez, Hejesdal and probably another five riders it should be a real battle for the podium. I think Majka is doing the Tour ?

 

[coimbrawu]

So Katusha will separate Moreno and Purito's calendar next season?
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67873

who will help Purito in next year's giro? Spilak?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So Katusha will separate Moreno and Purito's calendar next season?
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67873

who will help Purito in next year's giro? Spilak?

Don't think it will have much impact, unless J-Rod dons the pink jersey early in the race. Lots of controlled group riding in stage race these days and that benefits Purito immensely.

 

[greenedge]

I wonder whether that means all races though?

Does anyone know if JROD will then do the Dauphinie after the Giro? In 2011 he rode well there but that might have hurt his Vuelta- probably the same with Samu this year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I wonder whether that means all races though?

Does anyone know if JROD will then do the Dauphinie after the Giro? In 2011 he rode well there but that might have hurt his Vuelta- probably the same with Samu this year.

J-Rod is now only focused on Monuments, GTs and World. Fitting I would say. Sure he may go and pick up a check in Oman etc, but the guy understand whats important.

 

[Arredondo]

I wonder whether that means all races though?

Does anyone know if JROD will then do the Dauphinie after the Giro? In 2011 he rode well there but that might have hurt his Vuelta- probably the same with Samu this year.

Samu is just not the rider he was, so he wouldn't have made a impact in the Vuelta without Dauphiné either.

Jrod was strong in the first week of the Vuelta, but he just didn't have the form on the long climbs, and crashed hard in the third week.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

Joaquim Rodriguez is probably going to come down next season... 5 consecutive years performing at the TOP, in the long run that's an extra weight for the legs, especially at his age...

 

[Netserk]

Joaquim Rodriguez is probably going to come down next season... 5 consecutive years performing at the TOP, in the long run that's an extra weight for the legs, especially at his age...

There's always hope...

 

[greenedge]

Maybe he has even more motivation after being in the shadows for so long. Also in 2011 he was not as good as the last two years.

 

[Arredondo]

There's always hope...

Moderators, spoiler alarm!

 

[Pentacycle]

Joaquim Rodriguez is probably going to come down next season... 5 consecutive years performing at the TOP, in the long run that's an extra weight for the legs, especially at his age...

2014 is probably his last chance to win a big race. That's why he IMO should not do the Giro, because it will be harder for him to keep his good shape all year.
What he should do is peak at Pais Vasco, Liege and Romandie, perhaps also ride the Dauphiné, and then put in a monster peak for Vuelta + Worlds. Actually I'm kinda hoping he'll get slightly injured before the Giro so he won't be able to ride it, but Rodriguez knows his own body best...

 

[Netserk]

Moderators, spoiler alarm!

Moderators, crybaby alarm!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Joaquim Rodriguez is probably going to come down next season... 5 consecutive years performing at the TOP, in the long run that's an extra weight for the legs, especially at his age...

J-Rod was the strongest rider coming out of '13. Nothing has changed team wise and his personal trainer is still Piepoli. Considering how everybody else continue to perform until bald or grey haired, there are no reason why he can't be at the same level in '14.

 

[TANK91]

2014 is probably his last chance to win a big race. That's why he IMO should not do the Giro, because it will be harder for him to keep his good shape all year.
What he should do is peak at Pais Vasco, Liege and Romandie, perhaps also ride the Dauphiné, and then put in a monster peak for Vuelta + Worlds. Actually I'm kinda hoping he'll get slightly injured before the Giro so he won't be able to ride it, but Rodriguez knows his own body best...

I dont agree, sure he may think that he as unfinished buisness in LBL etc but but i feel he as greadually moved to being more of a Mountain climber than classics, sure he is still great in the hills, but what is important for him now? Imo he is know all about GT's in his mind after being so close, he proved last year he can ride 2 GT's back to back so i cant see it messing his shape up if anything it will be better than last year(of course his age may play apart but this is defo a better way to go about peaking) Giro/Vuelta is certainly better than Giro/Tour, especially if their is not as much MTF in La Vuelta(maybe 3 less MTF will actually help him) He will do the classics and hopefully take the form into the Giro but for me i would not fully peak for the Classics maybe even start season late, start in Tirreno/PaisVasco /Classics/Giro/Tour of Poland and then La Vuelta.


I do agree though time is defo running out he had to do the TDF for his own mind and he as ticked that box now i think he will never ride the TDF again unless he done a double GT win lol and thinks stuff it i can try for the TDF. I think he deserves a GT more than any other rider in the Peloton dont no what you lot think? 1 unlucky day in La Vuelta will haunt him on such an easy day aswell, it was close between Contador and Purito but Purito was defo better in that race.

 

[greenedge]

I dont agree, sure he may think that he as unfinished buisness in LBL etc but but i feel he as greadually moved to being more of a Mountain climber than classics, sure he is still great in the hills, but what is important for him now?

Well his results in LBL are still as good as his GT results.

Even if he is more of a mountain climber it is his punch that wins him most races, so therefore the Ardennes suit him to a tee- whether it is the one hill sprint or a few packed together.

He will still ride the Classics/ i doubt it would impact his Giro. Also if he didn't he would not be the rider most like for racing all season.

 

[karlboss]

So Katusha will separate Moreno and Purito's calendar next season?
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67873

who will help Purito in next year's giro? Spilak?

Good to see Moreno get a chance, and it'll be interesting to see what Spilak does also. Between the 3 with a long TT I'd like to see Spilak and Moreno go to the Tour and see how it progresses. Spilak has never had a good 3 week tour, but he didn't ride one last year when he was in great form. Looking at his one week races I don't think top 10 would have shocked too many people.
I'd think it completely reasonable for the 3 of them to ride 2 each, Spilak Giro/Tour, Rodriguez, Giro/Vuelta, and Moreno Tour/Vuelta.

 

[coimbrawu]

Good to see Moreno get a chance, and it'll be interesting to see what Spilak does also. Between the 3 with a long TT I'd like to see Spilak and Moreno go to the Tour and see how it progresses. Spilak has never had a good 3 week tour, but he didn't ride one last year when he was in great form. Looking at his one week races I don't think top 10 would have shocked too many people.
I'd think it completely reasonable for the 3 of them to ride 2 each, Spilak Giro/Tour, Rodriguez, Giro/Vuelta, and Moreno Tour/Vuelta.

I think at least they should try it at first. But giro/vuelta (not both but just one) should be his realistic goal next season. giro and vuelta double is not real...

 

[karlboss]

I think at least they should try it at first. But giro/vuelta (not both but just one) should be his realistic goal next season. giro and vuelta double is not real...

2012 giro/vuelta 2nd and 3rd...not much of a stretch to "aim" at winning both.

 

[jsem94]

2008 Contador did the Giro-Vuelta double. 2012 Purito on the podium in both. 2013 Nibali won the Giro, 2nd in Vuelta.

Very possible for Purito to perform really well in both. Should podium both if he performs as he has for the last few years at least.

 

[Pricey_sky]

If Purito arrives at both the Giro and Vuelta in decent form he should make the podium in both. There aren't many GT riders capable of beating him on those hard climbs.