Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[Afrank]

Would have liked for him to have won, at least he was attacking and trying to solo away. Tough luck for Purito.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

will he ever win something big?

 

[Froome19]

He has a monument under his belt already.

The only thing which can surpass that is the Worlds or a Gt (ok maybe LBL)..

 

[Netserk]

will he ever win something big?

Hopefully not.

Purito's biggest wins:

Lombardia
Catalunya
F-W
...
Burgos/stage wins in GTs

 

[The Hitch]

What has Joaquim Rodriguez done to you that you hate him so much?

 

[icefire]

Hopefully not.

Purito's biggest wins:

Lombardia
Catalunya
F-W
...
Burgos/stage wins in GTs

WT 2010
WT 2012

Shame the UCI gives a jersey to the winner of a 1-day race and doesn't do the same with the best rider of the season regardless of whether you agree or not on the points system they use in the WT classification.

 

[Netserk]

What has Joaquim Rodriguez done to you that you hate him so much?

The same as Hushovd.

Racing style.

 

[trevim]

My portuguese heart cries a bit for Purito today Obviously I wanted Rui Costa to win but I would much rather see him outsprinting Valverde, Gilbert, Sagan or Cancellara. Not Purito one of my favourite riders, who went from a commited domestique (Sierra Nevada 2009 anyone?) to one of the best riders in the world when he was given a chance. As a fan, I can only hope he can still win a GT at least.

 

[the asian]

The same as Hushovd.

Racing style.

But you're a fan of Valverde?

And where were you at last years' Lombardia?

 

[Netserk]

But you're a fan of Valverde?

And where were you at last years' Lombardia?

So what with Lombardia?

That was still the same Purito.

 

[Arredondo]

So what with Lombardia?

That was still the same Purito.

Purito had won 2 big classics the last 2 years, Piti ZERO

 

[Netserk]

Purito had won 2 big classics the last 2 years, Piti ZERO

Yeah.

So?

 

[Arredondo]

Yeah.

So?

I'm saying he's the better rider, and the Spanish guy with the most charisma. Piti hasn't brought anything good to cycling, perhaps Fuentes.

 

[Pentacycle]

Next year Purito's season should be all about April and September. He lost a possible Vuelta win trying to get a Tour podium, and only just lost LBL after suffering from a crash in the Amstel Gold. Then at the Worlds, he's being chased back by a Nibali who shouldn't have been racing that final in the first place, and who secondly was possessed by the illusion he could still take the Rainbows in the flat final against one fresher and one faster opponent. Next year I hope he focuses on taking his long awaited LBL, and then has another peak towards the WC on home soil to take his vengeance, and attempt to win the Vuelta in his preparation.

 

[Flamin]

I feel gutted for Purito. He has been robbed, simple as that.

 

[Viking]

I feel gutted for Purito. He has been robbed, simple as that.

Robbed? No. Purito rode a damned fine, agressive race. He did everything I like to see in any one-day race, let alone the World Championship. However Costa rode a better race, tactically, and was fresher for the final few hundred meters.

 

[The Hitch]

How did Costa ride a better race tactically. Purito nailed it tactically, guaranteeing a Spain win with his final attack. The fact that Valverde would **** up has nothing to do with him.

Costa on the other hand chose a 50:50 wheelsuck bluff or whatever you want to call it, where the potential for victory was totally out of his hands, and he got lucky that nibali decided to pull.

 

[trevim]

How did Costa ride a better race tactically. Purito nailed it tactically, guaranteeing a Spain win with his final attack. The fact that Valverde would **** up has nothing to do with him.

Costa on the other hand chose a 50:50 wheelsuck bluff or whatever you want to call it, where the potential for victory was totally out of his hands, and he got lucky that nibali decided to pull.

That's what happens when you know your rivals. Nibali was always going to pull: 1) Because he always does it; 2) Because he was riding in front of home crowd.
Maybe Nibali should have stopped when Purito was gone, forcing Rui to work or risking to be caught from the ones behind. Maybe he should have played it cooler? I don't know and I wasn't particularly happy to see him and Rodriguez missing out on the win.

 

[Viking]

Pretty much what trevim said. Costa used Nibali to get into a position to win, which was pretty smart as he lacked support throughout the race and Spain had the numbers at the end. Of course there's no fault in Rodriguez's tactics. He did everything he could have done. Much like in LBL this year, the rider that was able to bridge to him was the only one likely to be able to beat him in the end.

It's certainly valid to blame Valverde. I'm not sure if he screwed up and missed Costa's wheel (giving too much attention to Nibali, perhaps), or if he simply didn't have the legs to follow. However, depending on someone else in the last k is a recipe for defeat (excepting those bunch sprints with dependencies on leadouts, which are often dubious as well).

 

[The Hitch]

That's what happens when you know your rivals. Nibali was always going to pull: 1) Because he always does it

Based on what? the only time I remember Nibali in a similar situation was MSR with Canc and Gerrans to stay away and he didn't pull, albeit with the excuse that Sagan was behind.

 

[trevim]

Based on what? the only time I remember Nibali in a similar situation was MSR with Canc and Gerrans to stay away and he didn't pull, albeit with the excuse that Sagan was behind.

That day he didn't pull because he was cooked if I recall correctly. Anyway, I would say we won't agree about today's race so let's just agree to disagree

 

[hfer07]

Only thing that comes to my mind is that Purito needs some serious voodoo cleanse or change religion faith, because he seems to be "cursed" from victory.......

Still one of my favorite riders of all time

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Only thing that comes to my mind is that Purito needs some serious voodoo cleanse or change religion faith, because he seems to be "cursed" from victory.......

He seems to think so too.

A forlorn Rodriguez had little enthusiasm for dissecting the finale on the spot. The only sad conclusion he had reached for now was that he was once again the nearly man. “Clearly this is Purito’s destiny,” he said, brushing aside a tear, “To lose the Giro by a whisker, then the Vuelta and now the Worlds.”

Source

 

[Angliru]

I feel so so bad for Joaquim Rodriguez now. He is easily the unluckiest man in cycling (excluding stuff like crashes).

Looks like he never will get that big win. And no Lombardia which never made the papers in Spain is not a big win. I mean GT, Worlds, Olympics or Liege which he said was his dream race.

I think he has at least another strong year in him. He seems to be on an upward trend as far as his performances. I'm maybe being overly optimistic because I like him so much and really feel for him after seeing how he lost yesterday. In my heart and my head I think he still can deliver that big win in the next two seasons. I really thought he had it in the bag when he escaped and dropped Nibali on the descent.

 

[fraserhughes]

A forlorn Rodriguez had little enthusiasm for dissecting the finale on the spot. The only sad conclusion he had reached for now was that he was once again the nearly man. “Clearly this is Purito’s destiny,” he said, brushing aside a tear, “To lose the Giro by a whisker, then the Vuelta and now the Worlds.”

That is sad to read, I hope his form lasts at least another year and he gets some lucky soon.

Purito for the 2014 Giro-Vuelta-WC Triple!