Having so often come close, without yet breaking his Grand Tour duck, 2014 was set to be a big year for Joaquim Rodriguez as he rolled out for the Giro d’Italia in good form.
A poor team time trial had set him back but as his team set the pace on stage five and he profited with a strong showing on the uphill finish, Purito looked every bit the man who has been crowned world number one for three of the last four years.
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Just 24 hours later, it was all over for the diminutive Spaniard.
Rodriguez was one of a number of victims of the huge crash which marred stage six of the Giro d’Italia, and definitely the most high-profile.
A broken thumb, fractured rib and multiple abrasions was the verdict as he was helped to finish the stage by his team-mates.
The Spaniard bounced back by mounting a King of the Mountains challenge at the Tour de France, ultimately finishing third in the race for the polka dot jersey.
And now he is one of a number of riders looking to make amends with a strong showing at the Vuelta a Espana – limiting his losses on stage ten, in his least-favourite discipline, to stay firmly in contention overall.