Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

purito is still crazy strong if he can made that insane schedule. damn

Maybe it has something to do with the UCI champion feud between him and Valverde? Who can collect the most points?

If Valverde fails to deliver in the classics, Rodriguez has a good chance of winning it this year.

When both in similar form Valverde have bigger chance, cause he can score in wider variety of races

It depends how many of those wide variety races are WT.

Most of them are, but in a lot of those races he is a huge question mark. Milano-Sanremo, E3, GW (maybe?) and Flanders. If he can score points in those, he has a good chance of even surpassing his record.

Add in Canadian classics and Lombardia and he could get close to 800 points.

I suspect Valverde being 80-85% in those races and not scoring too many points. He wont do badly since he is Valverde and will probably at least get one top-10 somewhere, but he knows the Ardennes are his bread and butter AND he has a Giro a little later. I hope Unzue and Valverde are smart enough to realize that, as good as Valverde is he simply cant peak for 2-2,5 months!

So I guess what I am saying is he wont go all out in these cobbled classics since his schedules simply dictates that. Had he chosen to once again focus on the Tour (I think he honestly wanted, but gotta do this for the team), it would have different and he could have been close to 100% in Flanders.

 

[Velolover2]

I think he can allow himself to go all-out at least in Flanders and perhaps trying something in Sanremo since he is mostly doing one-day races. I expect Tirreno-Adriatico, the only stage race he is riding, to be a warm-up race for him.

I don't even think he is going seriously for Amstel and Flèche this year, only Liege. Allowing Betancur in lead in Amstel and Moreno in FW. He is the captain in Flanders and have said that it is a race that suits him well so I'm expecting something. A top 10 at least. Maybe a top 5.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

That's too heavy schedule...I don't get why is he riding Dubai and all three of Tirreno/Catalunya/Pais Vasco. He should not race Dubai and and one of Tirreno/Catalunya/Pais Vasco..

I don't think it's too bad. He's a smart rider and knows his body. He won't be giving 100% in all those races. He's not like a Contador or Valverde who races at the pointy end at almost every race. He usually needs to ride himself into shape in a stage race or two before going for GC.

As for Moreno, it's a big blow, but mostly because he strengthened a rivals' team while weakening Purito's.

Pretty much what he says here:

“It’s true that the loss of Dani has been a ‘***’ for me because he was a rider that I would always have in the final and we will notice his absence a lot,” Rodríguez told Biciclismo. “Dani was very important because he was similar to me and now he will do the same with Valverde. They are both very explosive [riders] and if it was difficult to beat [Valverde] imagine what it will be like with the addition of Dani.”

 

[Mr.White]

Purito concerned about Bala-Moreno combo. If Betancur hits his 2013 form, Movistar will be untouchable in hilly classics

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Purito concerned about Bala-Moreno combo. If Betancur hits his 2013 form, Movistar will be untouchable in hilly classics

It all depends on the form of Bala. He will not be in the shape he was this year. And Betancur is still a question mark.

Purito should not bo to worried about a possible trio. If he's in shape, he can beat them. Like a lot of other guys like Martin, Kwiat, Vuillermoz, Henao etc.. In cycling nothing is sure. We all know that

 

[Arredondo]

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

Only if you're trying to be at peak form for the whole season. Jrod has shown before he can ride a race just for training.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

Why? He always needs two GC races to be in shape. Just look at this year, he rode Dubai, Oman and Tirreno to be in shape for Pais Vasco and classics.

He will be at 80 race days at the end of the year. Just like the past 6 years. I really can't see possible failures.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

Why? He always needs two GC races to be in shape. Just look at this year, he rode Dubai, Oman and Tirreno to be in shape for Pais Vasco and classics.

He will be at 80 race days at the end of the year. Just like the past 6 years. I really can't see possible failures.

But you still said peaking from Tirreno till Liege. No one can't do that. Unless he only goes for the GC in one of the stage races.

 

[bala v]

Re: Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

Why? He always needs two GC races to be in shape. Just look at this year, he rode Dubai, Oman and Tirreno to be in shape for Pais Vasco and classics.

He will be at 80 race days at the end of the year. Just like the past 6 years. I really can't see possible failures.

But you still said peaking from Tirreno till Liege. No one can't do that. Unless he only goes for the GC in one of the stage races.

Oh yeah, someone can

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Purito will start in Valencia, instead of Dubai.

VueltaCV ‏@VueltaCV
VueltaCV heeft geretweet MARCA Polideportivo
@PuritoRodriguez y @katushacycling confirman su participación en la #VCV2016

Really clever choice. He can ride himself into shape in Valencia and Algarve, to be competitive from Tirreno till Liege.

Or a really dumb choice to one to ride two warm-up races. Such a heavy schedule is doomed to failure.

Why? He always needs two GC races to be in shape. Just look at this year, he rode Dubai, Oman and Tirreno to be in shape for Pais Vasco and classics.

He will be at 80 race days at the end of the year. Just like the past 6 years. I really can't see possible failures.

But you still said peaking from Tirreno till Liege. No one can't do that. Unless he only goes for the GC in one of the stage races.

He will target to win a stage in Tirreno, but be in '5th-10th' place in GC shape. Just like in 2012 and 2013. Even a Purito in 85% shape can win his traditional muro stage

From then on, he can peak for Catalunya and Pais Vasco and fight for the win there. Personally i agree that it's better just to only ride Tirreno and Catalunya, and skip Pais Vasco. But as a defending champ, i guess he wants to earn his crown. But i think it's still possible he will skip Pais Vasco in order to train well for the classics.

Valencia + Algarve + Tirreno + Catalunya would be absolutely perfect for him. But adding Pais Vasco is possible too, but perhaps it will cost you some percentages that you need to win FW/Liege.

But 'doomed to failure' is way too negative

 

[WheelofGear]

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

 

[pink_jersey]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

Yeah, because he's an incredible rider in hilly races..C'mon guys. Till now, Landa is just a one dimensional rider. He looks brutal just in incredible hard stages. He can't win a classic Chieti or Porto Sant'Elpidio Tirreno stage.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

Purito showed in the past he dares to attack, if he's not in the position to win a race. If he's not going to target GC, he will attack.

And of course Landa is a great climber. But let's just wait how he handles the pressure/new position. You're too much jumping on the hype train atm.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

Your Landa-hype =

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

Your Landa-hype =

It's more logical than your Contador hype. He is not even a top 3 climber anymore.

And I don't mind Contador, in fact I like him. Great rider and great attacker. But let's just admit it, he is not as strong as he used to be.

 

[WheelofGear]

Landa is a rider of the future. How is LaFlorecita's Contador hype or Arredondo's Purito hype any more logical? They are riders of the past.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Landa is a rider of the future. How is LaFlorecita's Contador hype or Arredondo's Purito hype any more logical? They are riders of the past.

We saw that this year

Those 'riders of the past' still won races like the Giro, Pais Vasco and coming 2nd in La Vuelta. I'm not saying Landa isn't a rider of the future. For sure, he will take over the legacy guys like Contador, Purito and Bala are leaving in a couple of years. But for the moment, those old dogs are still extremely dominant.

Every year i hear the same kind of talk that 'the new guys are taking over the power'. But like every year, at the end of the season, those old riders of the past have won the big races. Don't be surprised if the same will happen next season.

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Landa is a rider of the future. How is LaFlorecita's Contador hype or Arredondo's Purito hype any more logical? They are riders of the past.

Why? Because Landa is already 26 and has had one decent season. Aru is 25 and has had 2 good seasons; both, in terms of palmares, better than this season from Landa. Quintana is 25 and has come second in the Tour twice, won best climber, won the Giro and was leading the Vuelta until he crashed out. Contador, at Landa's age, had won all 3 GTs. And he is only 32, not 36 as you might like to make us think. Froome is 30! Valverde is 35! Contador is still relatively young and is retiring quite early.

Landa hype is less logical because how do we know he isn't a one shot wonder? Heck, he failed quite badly in the Vuelta until Stage 11, where he effectively rested beforehand. He was a good domestique thereafter but only because he hadn't been racing with the best, and could selectively rest on some days. No one was holding him back in the first week, yet he finished >10 minutes back.

If he starts returning great results year after year then yeah, we can say he is a great rider and justifies (some of) the hype. But so far he is still an unknown quantity.

 

[jens_attacks]

Forzza landaniii

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Landa is a rider of the future. How is LaFlorecita's Contador hype or Arredondo's Purito hype any more logical? They are riders of the past.

Why? Because Landa is already 26 and has had one decent season. Aru is 25 and has had 2 good seasons; both, in terms of palmares, better than this season from Landa. Quintana is 25 and has come second in the Tour twice, won best climber, won the Giro and was leading the Vuelta until he crashed out. Contador, at Landa's age, had won all 3 GTs. And he is only 32, not 36 as you might like to make us think. Froome is 30! Valverde is 35! Contador is still relatively young and is retiring quite early.

Landa hype is less logical because how do we know he isn't a one shot wonder? Heck, he failed quite badly in the Vuelta until Stage 11, where he effectively rested beforehand. He was a good domestique thereafter but only because he hadn't been racing with the best, and could selectively rest on some days. No one was holding him back in the first week, yet he finished >10 minutes back.

If he starts returning great results year after year then yeah, we can say he is a great rider and justifies (some of) the hype. But so far he is still an unknown quantity.

I agree with you. I hope he winds up fulfilling his potential as Spain's big leaders are nearing the end of their careers, but he really hasn't proven anything yet. He's got to confirm before I'm buying in to all the hype.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Is there even a stage for him in Tirreno?

I'd skip that race completely and only ride Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Chris Horner-style.

I don't know. Is there any news about a possible/known route?

It's rumored that there will be no MTF. That means no Purito wins because he is afraid of attacking from far out.

A brave rider like Landa is going to destroy them all.

Your Landa-hype =

It's more logical than your Contador hype. He is not even a top 3 climber anymore.

And I don't mind Contador, in fact I like him. Great rider and great attacker. But let's just admit it, he is not as strong as he used to be.

Is that why Contador beat him, his fellow teammate Aru and whole Astana team quite comfortably in the Giro?! They attacked him left and right, often 4,5 or 6 on 1, yet they failed to do anything!