Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Arredondo]

I really hope he can win a stage at Le Tour of Vuelta. He can retire then in good spirit.

If he's got Pais Vasco form, it's very much possible.

I hope he will reach that shape.

 

[Nirvana]

If he won't focus the GC in the Tour he could win from the break a mountain stage.
At the Vuelta i think he still has a shot for the GC, at least a top 5.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

If he won't focus the GC in the Tour he could win from the break a mountain stage.
At the Vuelta i think he still has a shot for the GC, at least a top 5.

I think Rodriguez is smarter than that. If he couldn't in '15, why bother in '16? Stage hunting in France and GC in La Vuelta.

 

[lenric]

King of the Mountains of the Tour. Shazam!! GC in Spain, but finishing again in 2nd place, only 15 seconds behind first place, again demonstrating he's one of the best non-GT-winners-all-the-while-GC-contenders of the last 20 years. Shazam!

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

If he won't focus the GC in the Tour he could win from the break a mountain stage.
At the Vuelta i think he still has a shot for the GC, at least a top 5.

I think Rodriguez is smarter than that. If he couldn't in '15, why bother in '16? Stage hunting in France and GC in La Vuelta.

Last winter i read an interview on an italian newspaper where he said that he aimed at the Tour GC and Rio as main objectives for 2016.
If he stays with the GC contenders i think he has no chance to win a stage.

 

[The Barb]

Many things point to him doing well today:

Went with the Contador attack yesterday to try to win the stage;
After that failed, he dropped time by taking it easy on the final climb;
Today's stage starts on a climb, making it easier for him to get in the break;
There aren't many obvious teams to bring back a break;
The final climb is nicely suited to his abilities.

I really hope to see him in the break.

 

[Arredondo]

Not in the break

Surely he feels himself not well, otherwise he would have been in the break. Looking at the names in it, he could have won the stage

 

[DBotero]

Don't know what to make of J.Rod.It looks like he didn't improve enough and the TDF is close by

 

[Arredondo]

Don't know what to make of J.Rod.It looks like he didn't improve enough and the TDF is close by

I don't care about the TDF tbh. A stage win is always a possibility. But even in top-shape, a top-5 isn't possible.

I mostly care about the Vuelta and Lombardia. I hope he can be good in those races.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Like the Looney Tunes' Coyote running on thin air, it looked like Purito could continue to defy ageing basically forever. Sadly for him and us fans, it looks like 2016 was the year age finally caught up with him.

 

[Laplaz]

Abandon

 

[DBotero]

Don't know what to make of J.Rod.It looks like he didn't improve enough and the TDF is close by

I don't care about the TDF tbh. A stage win is always a possibility. But even in top-shape, a top-5 isn't possible.

I mostly care about the Vuelta and Lombardia. I hope he can be good in those races.

TDF as GC is out of question but he looks bad even from the perspective of a stage win or I'm too dramatic.He should improve more as after TDF he needs to play his card at Rio where he's got his own chance to make history.

 

[Arredondo]

Río is quite a dream atm.

First we need to know why he's out.

 

[Squirbos_19]

Any reason for the abandon today, was hoping he'd have another nice performance.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Any reason for the abandon today, was hoping he'd have another nice performance.

#Dauphine stage victory for Cummings - Froome Overall winner. @PuritoRodriguez abandoned with sore throat / stomatitis

 

[Kwibus]

Mollema also out with a sore throat. Dauphine virus.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Any reason for the abandon today, was hoping he'd have another nice performance.

#Dauphine stage victory for Cummings - Froome Overall winner. @PuritoRodriguez abandoned with sore throat / stomatitis

Not good but he should be ok for TDF and hopefully in a better shape.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Any reason for the abandon today, was hoping he'd have another nice performance.

#Dauphine stage victory for Cummings - Froome Overall winner. @PuritoRodriguez abandoned with sore throat / stomatitis

Not good but he should be ok for TDF and hopefully in a better shape.

If it's true, it's not that bad. Then his bad showing is understandable. His performance on Vaujany was good.

Just forget about the GC, and try to get better during the race. Maybe a stage win in the Alps, and then shine in La Vuelta and Lombardia!

 

[Arredondo]

According to his manager Angel Edo, Purito will likely retire at the end of the year.

Logical decision. He's not the old Purito anymore, and he has the age to enjoy other things in life (family). I hope he will do something for Spanish television in the future. The guy could be a great commentator/presentator.

And i hope he can win a nice stage in the Tour or Vuelta to end his beautifull career!

 

[Red Rick]

I had thought he'd do one more year, but ok. I hope he won't stare himself blind on GC this Tour and Vuelta. Hopefully he can get a few wins in his last year

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

According to his manager Angel Edo, Purito will likely retire at the end of the year.

Logical decision. He's not the old Purito anymore, and he has the age to enjoy other things in life (family). I hope he will do something for Spanish television in the future. The guy could be a great commentator/presentator.

And i hope he can win a nice stage in the Tour or Vuelta to end his beautifull career!

Great decision, pity it comes one year too late. This year has hurt my (previously overwhelmingly good) opinion of Purito and it's sad to see him in this sorry situation.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

According to his manager Angel Edo, Purito will likely retire at the end of the year.

Logical decision. He's not the old Purito anymore, and he has the age to enjoy other things in life (family). I hope he will do something for Spanish television in the future. The guy could be a great commentator/presentator.

And i hope he can win a nice stage in the Tour or Vuelta to end his beautifull career!

Great decision, pity it comes one year too late. This year has hurt my (previously overwhelmingly good) opinion of Purito and it's sad to see him in this sorry situation.

I mean, it's just how it works. You cannot expect from every 37 year old rider to perform the way Valverde does for example. He was still good in Pais Vasco and Liege. Sadly it's not enough to win anymore.

But he can still win a nice stage in this Tour for example. He's up there. Keep faith. Especially in these times

 

[yaco]

How did it come one year too late - Won a stage at the 2015 TDF and 2nd at the 2015 Vuelta.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

How did it come one year too late - Won a stage at the 2015 TDF and 2nd at the 2015 Vuelta.

Yes, then he should have retired at the end of last year.

 

[Squirbos_19]

Looked really good today, hopefully he can keep this form for the high mountains. Finished 4th and gapped the rest at the end and also closed the gap to the Bardet/Valverde/Quintana attack.