Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Jspear]

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.

Are the cobbles in the Strade race anything like the Tour cobbles? Either way I think it would be a good race for him to do...the final suits him, he could win it.

 

[Gloin22]

Are the cobbles in the Strade race anything like the Tour cobbles? Either way I think it would be a good race for him to do...the final suits him, he could win it.

Strade was never won by pure puncheur/climber like Purito. He'd likely be dropped on the white roads of Strade Bianche.

 

[Arredondo]

Strade was never won by pure puncheur/climber like Purito. He'd likely be dropped on the white roads of Strade Bianche.

The race wasn't also really targeted by climbing specialist for years. Valverde did it last year, and already finished on the podium.

Ofcourse, Valverde is a different rider then Purito, but the latter one can definitely do well in a race like Strade.

 

[Netserk]

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?

Too heavy if you included PV as well. Would kill his chances for a Liège win. Judged by his last couple of seasons it seems he's better off using that time as a preparation block.

 

[Arredondo]

Too heavy if you included PV as well. Would kill his chances for a Liège win. Judged by his last couple of seasons it seems he's better off using that time as a preparation block.

You're right actually, in 2013 it worked as well.

On the other hand, based on the fact there is a finish on Aia and i always like to see Purito in action in PV, i regret his decision. But perhaps i'm just too much a lover of the old cycling attitude

 

[Coat-O]

Strade was never won by pure puncheur/climber like Purito. He'd likely be dropped on the white roads of Strade Bianche.

SB is for the punchers and hardmen like Evans, Vino and Nibali (who is participating this year).. Look at the top 10 this year. Kwiatkowski easily smashed Sagan and if Valverde had been there in the final, he could have destroyed both on the hill.

1 KWIATKOWSKI MichalOmega Pharma - Quick-Step80755:20:33
2 SAGAN PeterCannondale 56550:19
3 VALVERDE AlejandroMovistar Team32400:36
4 CUNEGO DamianoLampre - Merida24320:40
5 KREUZIGER RomanTinkoff - Saxo2028,,
6 CANCELLARA FabianTrek Factory Racing 16240:59
7 EVANS CadelBMC Racing Team12201:44
8 BARGUIL WarrenTeam Giant-Shimano8182:02
9 POELS WoutOmega Pharma - Quick-Step7162:11
10 GESCHKE SimonTeam Giant-Shimano6142:51

Purito is not as versatile as Valverde, but the rolling terrain suits him well.

 

[Arredondo]

Joaquim Rodriguez @PuritoRodriguez ? 24 min. 24 minuten geleden
Acabado @tourofoman con sensaciones mal?simas, ahora a descansar y averiguar cual es el motivo!!���� Pr?ximo objetivo @TirrenAdriatico

So Purito felt really bad during Oman, and will try to find out what's wrong. Let's hope he just had some bad days.

Or is it goodbye for ever?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think he's done. He's been on a steady decline the last couple of years. I don't see him delivering many good results again.

 

[TANK91]

I know some people don't agree with luck etc, but if anyone deserved a GT win and some good luck it is Purito. His 2012 was a superb season really. Was the best rider in both the Giro and Vuelta, he also had a huge collapse in the 2010 Vuelta. To be honest for the rider he is his palmares aint that great he is just a stage winning machine(still good).

 

[Netserk]

Joaquim Rodriguez @PuritoRodriguez ? 24 min. 24 minuten geleden
Acabado @tourofoman con sensaciones mal?simas, ahora a descansar y averiguar cual es el motivo!!���� Pr?ximo objetivo @TirrenAdriatico

So Purito felt really bad during Oman, and will try to find out what's wrong. Let's hope he just had some bad days.

Or is it goodbye for ever?

I saw read some of our discussion in this thread from last year. I would say I was quite spot on, certainly not more biased than you

 

[Arredondo]

I saw read some of our discussion in this thread from last year. I would say I was quite spot on, certainly not more biased than you

Still the difference between second part 2014 and now is too big to purely base it on the fact he's done. I think there's something wrong with him, sickness or something like that.

I hope he will be right before Catalunya and classics, because he deserves a decent farewell.

 

[Arredondo]

I know some people don't agree with luck etc, but if anyone deserved a GT win and some good luck it is Purito. His 2012 was a superb season really. Was the best rider in both the Giro and Vuelta, he also had a huge collapse in the 2010 Vuelta. To be honest for the rider he is his palmares aint that great he is just a stage winning machine(still good).

But for the years he was able to be a team leader, he won two monuments, another big classic, two Catalunya's and became three time number one of the world (in WT sense). That's not bad at all.

Not everyone can be a Contador or Froome.

 

[Arredondo]

I think he's done. He's been on a steady decline the last couple of years. I don't see him delivering many good results again.

Only last year was less because of his injuries. In 2013 he won a monument and reached podium in the Tour. Two great achievements.

 

[Jancouver]

I hope he will be right before Catalunya and classics, because he deserves a decent farewell.

In sports, you dont get results just because you "deserve" some farewell and very few get to finish at the top. Just reality.

 

[Arredondo]

In sports, you dont get results just because you "deserve" some farewell and very few get to finish at the top. Just reality.

I don't care reality. I think he deserves a decent farewell

 

[Carols]

Purito has a palmares that 90%+ of the peloton would give their eye teeth to have. I hope he finds out what the issue is and comes back to take some more really nice wins.

 

[Arredondo]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015...-to-find-form-for-ardennes-grand-tours_361585

Vamos Purito!!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Only last year was less because of his injuries. In 2013 he won a monument and reached podium in the Tour. Two great achievements.

I never said they weren't. I just said he's been on a steady decline since 2012 and I don't think anyone disagrees with that.

 

[roundabout]

okay, I disagree. He was very impressive in the Alps in the 2013 Tour. Probably one of his best ever performances on Semnoz

 

[Arredondo]

I never said they weren't. I just said he's been on a steady decline since 2012 and I don't think anyone disagrees with that.

But that's just not true. I even think his 2013 season was better in terms of true power. He only didn't win as much as in 2012 due to choices (not riding PV) and bad luck in the classics.

2010 and 2011 seasons were fine
2012 season was the best in terms of victories
2013 was the most impressive in terms of power and strenght
2014 was less due to the crashes

 

[Netserk]

I still don't get why he wants to do the Tour, I guess it's what the team wants, but I think it would be better if their objective would be to support Kristoff in the battle for the green jersey and then a few stage hunters as well.

It will be interesting to see if Purito will save himself when he realizes in the third week that he won't podium or if he will fight and finish outside the podium in the Vuelta as well. I think he'll end between 8th and 4th in the Tour (best case scenario where he will reach his 'new' 100%) and between 5th and 3rd in the Vuelta.

 

[Arredondo]

I still don't get why he wants to do the Tour, I guess it's what the team wants, but I think it would be better if their objective would be to support Kristoff in the battle for the green jersey and then a few stage hunters as well.

It will be interesting to see if Purito will save himself when he realizes in the third week that he won't podium or if he will fight and finish outside the podium in the Vuelta as well. I think he'll end between 8th and 4th in the Tour (best case scenario where he will reach his 'new' 100%) and between 5th and 3rd in the Vuelta.

That's why he has to chase stage wins in the Tour, and the polkadots. Reaching the podium in the Tour is almost impossible.

In the classics and stage races like PV and Catalunya, i still think he has a chance at the victory, GT's no.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

But that's just not true. I even think his 2013 season was better in terms of true power. He only didn't win as much as in 2012 due to choices (not riding PV) and bad luck in the classics.

2010 and 2011 seasons were fine
2012 season was the best in terms of victories
2013 was the most impressive in terms of power and strenght
2014 was less due to the crashes

Alright, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what great results he'll deliver from now on then. If he reaches his 2012 level again, I'll have to admit that you're right. If he doesn't, there are two possibilities:

1) He's been on a steady decline
2) He's suddenly much worse than before

And then we'll leave it to everyone to form their own opinion as to which explanation is the most realistic.

 

[Arredondo]

Alright, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what great results he'll deliver from now on then.

I disagree with the fact he went on a decline since 2012, not with the fact he perhaps is past his prime. That last assumption could be the case.

 

[Netserk]

That's why he has to chase stage wins in the Tour, and the polkadots. Reaching the podium in the Tour is almost impossible.

In the classics and stage races like PV and Catalunya, i still think he has a chance at the victory, GT's no.

Absolutely agree with that and I think that would be good for his overall season as well, but do you really think that will happen?