Purito - Joaquim Rodriguez thread

[DBotero]

I forgot how good is J.Rod,when is good.Really didn't expect him to win the GC,i was thinking about Spilak or Izagire.Now on to the Ardennes Classics hopefully will add a win to his tally

 

[trevim]

I would love to see him winning Liege someday (just like Rui Costa) but not in a sprint in Ains please!

 

[Dedelou]

today victory is a great spirit booster for JRod.. expect him to follow that with great efforts comes the Ardennes. It may not be south, but i know there will be many lining the roadside screaming " Allez! JRod. Allez, allez!

 

[roundabout]

Re: Re:

http://inrng.com/2015/01/10-predictions-for-2015/

The Ardennes week will have a different feel. First there might be a new finish for Liège-Bastogne-Liège. There’s been vague talk of a finish in Liège itself rather than the drab suburb of Ans. The final climb has ensured a selective finish but the parcours has become too predictable. In 2013 they had to remove the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, a surprise late change and on paper the revised route didn’t look so hard. But it was unknown and riders were forced to take risks, to improvise. A flat finish in Liège would mix things up, especially as the climbers would have to go early to ditch those with a sprint. If familiarity breeds contempt then a new finish is worth trying.

Actually i really hope they will move the finish to Liege itself, because it indeed would make the race more interesting. Then there is another reason Purito has to attack on la Redoute, or Faucons, just like all the other climbers without a really good sprint (so riders bar Valverde, Kwiatkowski and Gerrans).

So i'm really in for a new, flatter, finish. It's all about good cycling, and not if a favourite rider wins it.

The usual finish at Liege

http://www.letour.fr/liege-bastogne-lie ... ourse.html

And a new hill at just 5.5 km to go in the Fleche with only about 3k of flat before the last climb

http://www.letour.fr/la-fleche-wallonne ... /race.html

 

[Dedelou]

Amen .. Nothing is changing under the Ardennes " grey skies"

 

[Squirbos_19]

Let's go Purito, best of luck in the Ardennes. I hope he can get a win in Liege, even another Fleche Wallone win would be great. His tactics were very good in Vuelta a Pais Vasco so hopefully that should help him even if he isn't the strongest rider.

 

[Arredondo]

So today showed Purito's dominance on steep climbs has come to an end

So what should he do in Liege. Attack on La Redoute and hoping for some alliance from Nibs and Rolland.

But will he do it?

 

[DBotero]

Re:

So today showed Purito's dominance on steep climbs has come to an end

So what should he do in Liege. Attack on La Redoute and hoping for some alliance from Nibs and Rolland.

But will he do it?

Nah,he didn't have it today,like Henao.I was expecting a Valverde win but with J.Rod right beside him in a close finish.J.Rod muritos wins are not over,he still have it.I'm confident we'll see some more wins from him on his trademark style,maybe even on Mur in TDF

 

[Bushman]

Katusha are really strong, they should use their number of riders offensively. Caruso, Moreno and Spilak if he rides should be really aggressive and offensive.

 

[Squirbos_19]

I don't think he was too bad today, he said after the race that he was boxed in at his favourite spot to attack and that he had good legs. Now I'm not sure he could have beat Valverde even if he wasn't boxed in, but if he was in Moreno's position on Valverde's wheel he probably could have podiumed. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but I don't think today was too bad, I think he'll win some more this year.

 

[DBotero]

Better than in La Fleche,but not enough to beat Valverde monster form.I'm glad he's got a podium spot,i still think he'll get some wins this year.He's close,he just needs a bit more acceleration to get them.

 

[johnymax]

He has just won Pais Vasco with 2 stage wins, you know.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

He has just won Pais Vasco with 2 stage wins, you know.

No i don't know Just started watching today,i'm a noob

 

[Arredondo]

Bala is just too good at the moment. I'm glad he shows he's back at top level, but i'm a little bit disappointed he didn't attack today.

But on the other hand, it isn't easy to attack. If he does, Valverde is straight on his wheel, because he remains his biggest rival. And Katusha as a team did what they could.

Now some rest and to Le Tour! I'm hoping for a stage win and a podium, although the last objective will be really difficult.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Bala is just too good at the moment. I'm glad he shows he's back at top level, but i'm a little bit disappointed he didn't attack today.

But on the other hand, it isn't easy to attack. If he does, Valverde is straight on his wheel, because he remains his biggest rival. And Katusha as a team did what they could.

Now some rest and to Le Tour! I'm hoping for a stage win and a podium, although the last objective will be really difficult.

There are those TDF stages for him and Valverde,with some luck on his side,he might be the one winning them.Podium will be hard imo for him or Valverde but will be fun to see one of them getting it.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Bala is just too good at the moment. I'm glad he shows he's back at top level, but i'm a little bit disappointed he didn't attack today.

But on the other hand, it isn't easy to attack. If he does, Valverde is straight on his wheel, because he remains his biggest rival. And Katusha as a team did what they could.

Now some rest and to Le Tour! I'm hoping for a stage win and a podium, although the last objective will be really difficult.

There are those TDF stages for him and Valverde,with some luck on his side,he might be the one winning them.Podium will be hard imo for him or Valverde but will be fun to see one of them getting it.

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Bala is just too good at the moment. I'm glad he shows he's back at top level, but i'm a little bit disappointed he didn't attack today.

But on the other hand, it isn't easy to attack. If he does, Valverde is straight on his wheel, because he remains his biggest rival. And Katusha as a team did what they could.

Now some rest and to Le Tour! I'm hoping for a stage win and a podium, although the last objective will be really difficult.

There are those TDF stages for him and Valverde,with some luck on his side,he might be the one winning them.Podium will be hard imo for him or Valverde but will be fun to see one of them getting it.

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

True,he's a better climber.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

Calling it now, Purito WILL podium this year

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

Calling it now, Purito WILL podium this year

Can you call it a win then?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

Calling it now, Purito WILL podium this year

Can you call it a win then?

No the win is reserved for Berto

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Absolutely, and in terms of riding a GC in the Tour, i think Purito has a bigger chance to reach the podium then Bala. Just because he's just a bit better in the high mountains.

Calling it now, Purito WILL podium this year

Can you call it a win then?

No the win is reserved for Berto

Fair well then, Froomey will be already out before the cobbles fur sure

 

[Netserk]

I was just starting to warm a little for him and then he's back at riding like a coward

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

I was just starting to warm a little for him and then he's back at riding like a coward

His team was too strong. We need a weak Katusha team, perhaps then he attacks earlier

I'm also a little bit disappointed. But on the other hand, Valverde would have followed him whenever he attacked. He's just too strong atm.

 

[Netserk]

If he attacked on Nicolas he would at least have set it up for a teammate to counter if Valverde closed him down. Valverde was isolated in the final, yet Katusha with 3 riders waited way too long to use their numbers.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

If he attacked on Nicolas he would at least have set it up for a teammate to counter if Valverde closed him down. Valverde was isolated in the final, yet Katusha with 3 riders waited way too long to use their numbers.

Agree with that. They did benefit from their strenght, but not enough.

But the fact he didn't attacked on St. Nicolas, showed to me he didn't had much left in the tank.