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Rise of a Phoenix | Episode 10: The Phoenix' Ashes
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-06-2015 10:38
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Tour de France Champion
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With Marcel Kittel winning the opening stage of the Tour de France 2014, the ball was rolling. There was no way back, now. For the next three weeks, it was all or nothing.
The objective was clear, but the road there would never be easy. The first five stages couldn't be dubbed any better than 'The Hell of the North'. The passage through England was hazardous and nervous, especially with the rain, but RodrÃguez managed to keep his head cool and finish within the winners' time on all three occasions.
The first true test would come in the stage from Ypres to Arenberg. Cobblestones, not exactly his cup of tea. The stones there could potentially threaten his entire GC hopes.
Thankfully, the weather cleared up and the cobblestones lay dry. But that wouldn't mean that the riders would take it easy over them. Riders like Tom Boonen dreamed about taking the Yellow Jersey, while GC contenders thought they could distance themselves from their rivals here. The fast pace over the hellish cobblestones ripped the peloton apart completely.
RodrÃguez got caught behind. A lightweight as him had no chance on the cobbles of Paris - Roubaix. But he had to limit the damage at any cost. His team worked hard to ensure that.
RodrÃguez crossed the finish line minutes behind Hayman, the winner of the day. But the time he lost against Contador, Froome and Quintana was limited. He had lost under a minute, and so things were still under control. As far as they could be.
Despite the damage limitation, the fact remained that RodrÃguez would have to attack the big three to gain back time. That is, if he really wanted to win this Tour de France... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 03-06-2015 20:13
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Tour de France Champion
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The stages leading up to the second rest day were not kind on RodrÃguez. Instead of gaining back time, he lost more valuable time in the stages usually suited to his abilities.
In stage 8, RodrÃguez went onto the attack. He needed to gain back time and that wouldn't happen by sticking with the favorites.
But it become obvious soon enough that Purito didn't have the legs he needed to win this Tour. Either he wasn't strong enough, or his form was not what was expected. The fact remained: he continued to lose time.
Of course there were good moments, too. Trofimov staying clear out of the break of the day to take the stage victory in front of World Champion Costa was one of them.
Right before the first rest day, Contador grabbed the Maillot Jaune.
But that was far from RodrÃguez problems. If his legs didn't get any better, it didn't matter who was in the Maillot Jaune.
After the climb to La Planche des Belles Filles, Purito was three minutes down on Contador. Three minutes seemed an eternity if you needed to gain it on Contador. But Purito wasn't giving up yet.
After all, he was still in 8th position and not all was lost yet. If he could find his good legs, anything was possible!
General Classification - Stage 10 | 1 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | 41h35'06 | | 2 | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | + 34 | | 3 | MichaÅ‚ Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 1'18 | | 4 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | + 1'19 | | 5 | Jean-Christophe Peraud | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1'39 | | 6 | Daniel Martin | Garmin Sharp | + 2'08 | | 7 | Daniel Moreno | Team Katusha | + 2'46 | | 8 | JoaquÃm RodrÃguez | Team Katusha | + 3'03 | | 9 | Chris Horner | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 10 | Rafal Majka | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 3'18 |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 03-06-2015 22:43
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Tour de France Champion
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Terrible time for Purito 
Edited by sutty68 on 04-06-2015 18:11
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 03-06-2015 23:12
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8063
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Just hitch a ride onto Froome's wheel during the next batch of climbs and J-Rod will have no problems catching up to Contador. 
Still anyone's race after 10 stages so that's cool. 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 15:11
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| DiCyc |
Posted on 04-06-2015 06:21
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Sprinter
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That's a shame But the tour is not over! |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 04-06-2015 12:10
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Purito can do this!! Just keep fighting!!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-06-2015 09:28
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Tour de France Champion
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Cheers, guys! RodrÃguez won't give up easily 
Short update coming up. And then we're halfway the story. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-06-2015 09:28
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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And with that 3 minute deficit to Contador, RodrÃguez and the entire peloton went into the first rest day.
Losing his Vuelta in 2012 arguably in the rest day, after refusing to get on the bike and give the legs something they're used to, Purito took this rest day to keep the legs awake. A small 2 hour tour through the French countryside.
Three minutes were far, but not too far. He could still make that, if Contador would slip up in the last week, that wouldn't be the first time. Tough with the eye on the 50 km time trial, he probably needed to regain more than that.
Winning the Tour de France was far away for RodrÃguez, but when you count him out, that's when he becomes the most dangerous... |
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| baia |
Posted on 05-06-2015 12:17
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Interesting idea Ian but maybe you should change the title 
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 05-06-2015 13:22
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3804
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baia wrote:
Interesting idea Ian but maybe you should change the title Why? |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 05-06-2015 14:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Well I can't help it if the she-devil wants to sing about my story. I don't mind if it makes her happy.
NOT CHANGING MY TITLE!!!! 
Spoiler Especially since I never heard her song and I don't intend to ever hear it. Not a big Eurosong fan here so if I can avoid it, it's been a good day.
Edited by Ian Butler on 05-06-2015 14:18
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 05-06-2015 15:24
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Classics Specialist
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Oh a disaster;change the title,Ian |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 05-06-2015 23:25
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Tour de France Champion
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Deleted the wierdo picture just for the sake of your story mate  |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 07-06-2015 20:45
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Grand Tour Champion
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Only just come across this, and it is a fantastic read 
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 07-06-2015 23:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Purito will move up a gear after the rest day |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 08-06-2015 07:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Thanks guys
Hope to do the next update a bit later today! Had it planned for yesterday but it was one busy weekend! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 08-06-2015 12:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
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It's true, we already had the first summit finish. But the Planche des Belles Filles hardly qualifies as a real mountain.
For RodrÃguez, the Tour de France was only just beginning. Going into the second week, Purito finally found terrain he excelled in!
The rest day had done RodrÃguez good, everyone could see that. When Contador went onto the attack on the ride to Risoul, RodrÃguez managed to catch on!
It's in this stage that the Big Three would finally come to the surface. We now know that this is the 2014 Tour de France podium riding together. Even then, people started speculating on those three standing on the podium. But in what order? That was the big question.
Froome, Contador, RodrÃguez. Three man for one spot.
In the first round, Contador won on points. RodrÃguez was unable to deal either of them a knockout and so the three stayed within distance of each other. Albeit with RodrÃguez holding the shortest straw, and with a 52 km time trial on the one but last stage, there was still a lot of work to do!
On the next stage, Purito blew a tire and went down, going over 40 kph.
The fall would definitely hinder him in the remainder of the stage, where he had to let the favorites go in the final two kilometer.
By the time the Tour caravan reached Nîmes for the second rest day, Contador had put himself forward as the absolute favorite for the Tour de France, not leaving any room for doubt. RodrÃguez, so it seemed, was a beaten man. One of the many unable to follow El Pistolero's pace.
Only Froome was still a contender for the victory, according to the average man in the street. Froome had the advantage of his time trial. Rodriguez had now fallen to a fourth place and was 5 minutes behind Contador.
He had three mountain stages, two flat stages and one time trial stage to turn around his luck. At the eve of the second rest day, nobody gave RodrÃguez a fighting chance anymore.
But that's when things got... interesting.
General Classification - Stage 15 | 1 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | 64h16'36 | | 2 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | + 1'36 | | 3 | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | + 2'42 | | 4 | JoaquÃm RodrÃguez | Team Katusha | + 4'54 | | 5 | Jean-Christophe Peraud | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5'44 | | 6 | Daniel Martin | Garmin Sharp | + 8'02 | | 7 | MichaÅ‚ Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 8'22 | | 8 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ.fr | + 8'25 | | 9 | Bauke Mollema | Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | + 8'40 | | 10 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | + 8'42 |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 08-06-2015 12:47
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Great write up Ian!!! Can't wait for the next episode!! I'm getting really into this now!!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 08-06-2015 15:03
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Purito is not having much luck at all |
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 09-06-2015 18:38
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Classics Specialist
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Joined: 27-06-2014
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A magic ITT would be needed |
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