Joaquim Rodriguez decides to compete in Lombardia
Spanish cyclist Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodriguez has decided to compete in the Giro di Lombardia taking place this Saturday, October 16, despite his previous announcement that he would be ending his season due to exhaustion.
The Team Katusha rider finished fourth in the Vuelta a España after a long and successful season, earning him the number one spot in the UCI World Rankings.
After the Vuelta, where he won the 14th stage, but nearly collapsed in the final time-trial, he announced that his season had been long enough and cancelled his appearance at the UCI Road World Championships in Geelong, Australia.
“I ended the Vuelta a España really tired after a very heavy season and with 82 days of competition in the legs,” said Rodriguez, explaining why he desired to end his season at the time, but no longer feels the same way.
“I don’t know how I will be, because since the Vuelta I took a break with my family and my form dropped very quickly. I have gone out on my bike, but without much intensity. I will try to do as well as I can.”
Rodriguez won the bronze medal at the 2009 Road World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, but was satisfied enough with his ranking as the world’s best cyclist (Tour de France green jersey winner Thor Hushovd won this year’s competition).
The pre-Worlds favourite for the road race, Philippe Gilbert, will be competing against Rodriguez at to Giro di Lombardia, and he wil be looking to make up for his loss at the Worlds.
While the final Belgian classic and an end-season goal for many of the major cyclists does count towards the World Rankings points, Rodriguez is far enough ahead that there is no way he can lose his top spot. The top five are Rodriguez with 551, Alberto
Contador with 482, Luis Leon Sanchez with 403, Caden Evans with 390 and Robert Gesink with 369.
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