Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Flamin]

Purito to ride the Tour next year, according to this. Also no early start in San Luis.

 

[Gloin22]

Purito to ride the Tour next year, according to this. Also no early start in San Luis.

Obvious decision is obvious. Any other decision would be ridiculous. Having Kristoff and Paolini in team should hopefully help him in cobbles stage..

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Obvious decision is obvious. Any other decision would be ridiculous. Having Kristoff and Paolini in team should hopefully help him in cobbles stage..

It amounts to an acceptance that he will never win a GT.

 

[Jspear]

It amounts to an acceptance that he will never win a GT.

You're most likely correct, but anything can happen. The Tour with it's limited tting is his best shot....he should still try. Look at Horner - never say never.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It amounts to an acceptance that he will never win a GT.

yep, but there are about 8-10 uphill type finishes. Will provide a nice fallback.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

yep, but there are about 8-10 uphill type finishes. Will provide a nice fallback.

There are arguments for cutting his losses and going for the consolation prize, but I'd rather see him go all out for a GT win. He obviously can't do so at the Tour unless all of the big four crash or get sick.

 

[cineteq]

Purito to ride the Tour next year, according to this. Also no early start in San Luis.

Great news!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Although now that I'm reminded how sparse the meaningful races are on his palmares, I suppose that a couple of Tour stages actually would mean something big for him. Christ all those wasted years domestiquing.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

There are arguments for cutting his losses and going for the consolation prize, but I'd rather see him go all out for a GT win. He obviously can't do so at the Tour unless all of the big four crash or get sick.

I think he will struggle to make top five in any case.

So Giro against Contador, Aru and Uran? Possible outside podium which makes me think Tour is better option.

And then a late season charge.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I think he will struggle to make top five in any case.

So Giro against Contador, Aru and Uran? Possible outside podium which makes me think Tour is better option.

And then a late season charge.

I was thinking more of the Vuelta, if he was to go into it relatively fresh while almost everyone we might expect to beat him had the Tour in their legs.

I also don't think the likes of Uran or Aru are out of his reach quite yet. They will be soon of course.

 

[bicifan]

He's 36, he can do it!

Han diseñado un Tour de Francia para Purito Rodriguez, con solo una contrarreloj el primer día, de 13,7 kilómetros, y ocho finales en alto. “Me gusta y mucho, aunque es muy peligroso"

http://biciciclismo.com/es/joaquim-rodriguez-disputara-un-tour-de-escaladores-y-la-vuelta-12-11-2014

He'll do La Vuelta too.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I was thinking more of the Vuelta, if he was to go into it relatively fresh while almost everyone we might expect to beat him had the Tour in their legs.

I also don't think the likes of Uran or Aru are out of his reach quite yet. They will be soon of course.

Vuelta perhaps, but I think both Valverde and Quintana will wave the Movistar flag. Will Aru come along or will he try adding classics?

 

[Flamin]

Obvious decision is obvious. Any other decision would be ridiculous. Having Kristoff and Paolini in team should hopefully help him in cobbles stage..

Kristoff won't wait for him of course.

Although now that I'm reminded how sparse the meaningful races are on his palmares, I suppose that a couple of Tour stages actually would mean something big for him. Christ all those wasted years domestiquing.

Yes, another real shot at Liège and a possible legendary Tour stage win in Huy sounds way better than taking on Contador in the Giro.

 

[Kwibus]

I have the feeling Purito is past his prime, unfortunately. Sometimes I still really wish he won vuelta 2012(allthough AC win was pretty epic ofc) or atleast Liege, but he's an almost rider unfortunately. Ofcourse he still has a great palmares imo, but it could've so much more.

 

[Dr. Juice]

I have the feeling Purito is past his prime, unfortunately. Sometimes I still really wish he won vuelta 2012(allthough AC win was pretty epic ofc) or atleast Liege, but he's an almost rider unfortunately. Ofcourse he still has a great palmares imo, but it could've so much more.

I'm a Contador fan so I would not have liked to see him winning the 2012 Vuelta.
But it would have been nice if he had won the Giro instead of Hesjedal. He really deserved to win 1 GT in his career.

 

[Squirbos19]

People will probably disagree with me, but I reckon Purito can podium the Tour in 2015, win a couple of stages and possibly wear the yellow jersey for a few stages.
I think he can still be very successful in the next two years, but he probably has to stop having so many race days. IMO he still has the potential to win another World Tour stage race, Liege, a couple of hilly one-day races and some Grand Tour stages and maybe a points jersey in the vuelta in the next couple of years.

 

[Arredondo]

He can finish on the podium, and winning a big classic or stage race of course. People are really fast forgetting him. Before his crash in the Amstel, he still won Catalunya in front of all the other big names.

And after so many difficulties, and stupid decisions (not resting enough after his crash in Amstel, riding the Tour), he still rode a really good Vuelta concering the circumstances. There were 5 riders who dominate the race, and he was one of them.

But it looks people only tend to look at the final GC place (4th), and say: 'Well, no podium, 35 years, so too old and past his prime'

But he will be on his normal level in 2015, and i think he's still capable to win the biggest races. He just has to make some clever decisions.

 

[Squirbos19]

Agree with everything you just said. People do forget he was one of a small number of riders this year to beat Contador

 

[cineteq]

People will probably disagree with me, but I reckon Purito can podium the Tour in 2015, win a couple of stages and possibly wear the yellow jersey for a few stages.

It's quite possible, but in order to win he'd need bonus seconds that don't exist.

 

[Jspear]

It's quite possible, but in order to win he'd need bonus seconds that don't exist.

True.
There is bonus seconds on the first 9 stages, but none in the latter (more decisive) stages. Personally I don't understand that. If you are going to have bonus seconds put them later in the race where the GC battle usually takes place...

 

[Amsterdam]

He can finish on the podium, and winning a big classic or stage race of course. People are really fast forgetting him. Before his crash in the Amstel, he still won Catalunya in front of all the other big names.

And after so many difficulties, and stupid decisions (not resting enough after his crash in Amstel, riding the Tour), he still rode a really good Vuelta concering the circumstances. There were 5 riders who dominate the race, and he was one of them.

But it looks people only tend to look at the final GC place (4th), and say: 'Well, no podium, 35 years, so too old and past his prime'

But he will be on his normal level in 2015, and i think he's still capable to win the biggest races. He just has to make some clever decisions.

I understand what you are saying. He was very strong in 2012,2013 and early 2014. Maybe he could have won FW, Liege and the giro if he didn't crash in Amstel Gold Race. But since his crash he is not the same anymore. Next year he is turning 36 and I don't think he will reach the level of 2012/2013 again after his crash.

Mant riders didn't come back to their top level after some bad luck and injuries at the age of 35. (Evans, Hushovd, Voeckler, etc)

 

[Dr. Juice]

I understand what you are saying. He was very strong in 2012,2013 and early 2014. Maybe he could have won FW, Liege and the giro if he didn't crash in Amstel Gold Race. But since his crash he is not the same anymore. Next year he is turning 36 and I don't think he will reach the level of 2012/2013 again after his crash.

Mant riders didn't come back to their top level after some bad luck and injuries at the age of 35. (Evans, Hushovd, Voeckler, etc)

Petacchi still was the best sprinter in the world in 2007 when he won 5 Giro stages plus Paris Tours, but that severe injury in 2006 (at age 32) took that little edge away which made him dominate the scene.
We'll see if Purito gets to his 2012- early 2014 level again - maybe yes, maybe not.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I hope he is still at or near his best next year. Of course he is at an age where he is inevitably only going to get worse at some point relatively soon, but it would be great if he can stave it off.

He just wasted so many damn years as a domestique. There can't be many guys at his level (top 5 puncheur, top 10 GC rider) who spent that long riding for others. His palmares represent even more underachievement than Valverde. I really want him to take another really big win before it is too late, the Vuelta or LBL or Lombardia or a WC.

 

[Arredondo]

So this is Purito's program for next season

Tour of Dubai
Tour of Oman
Tirreno-Adriatico
Volta a Catalunya
Amstel Gold Race
Fleche Wallone
Liege Bastogne Liege
Dauphiné Libere
National road championships (most likely)
Tour de France
Clasica San Sebastian
Vuelta a Espana
Worlds
Milano-Torino
Giro del Piemonte
Giro di Lombardia

I think it's really good he does Tirreno again. I would like to see he does Pais Vasco too, because he doesn't ride the Giro.

What do you think?

 

[Coat-O]

So this is Purito's program for next season

Tour of Dubai
Tour of Oman
Tirreno-Adriatico
Volta a Catalunya
Amstel Gold Race
Fleche Wallone
Liege Bastogne Liege
Dauphiné Libere
National road championships (most likely)
Tour de France
Clasica San Sebastian
Vuelta a Espana
Worlds
Milano-Torino
Giro del Piemonte
Giro di Lombardia

I think it's really good he does Tirreno again. I would like to see he does Pais Vasco too, because he doesn't ride the Giro.

What do you think?

Better program than last year but still not enough one-stage races. I would have added a couple of spring classics like Strade Bianche. Could help him on the cobbles although it's a different experiment.