Purito has been a serial contender at all the Grand Tours, without yet managing to win one – his near-miss at the Giro d’Italia in 2011, where he was overtaken in the final time trial, being the closest he has come. Stage wins and podium places, however, have been no such problem and having claimed he is not competing for the GC this year, it is the former he has in mind again.
The last week in particular looks well-suited to Rodriguez, with summit finishes on the Hautacam and Pla d’Adet. The former in particular, which marks the end of a stage which also goes over the Col du Tourmalet, is one likely to suit someone in Rodriguez’s mould. The Spaniard may not harbour overall ambitions, but if he performs as he can on the big climbs, a high overall finish is certainly not out of the question.
His climbing prowess is second-to-none, hence being crowned world number one in three of the last four years, and his sudden bursts of acceleration off the front of the bunch are showing no signs of slowing. He was it again in the Volta a Catalunya, to remind everybody why he is so revered as a rider.
