As expected, Joaquim Rodriguez has benefited from his Giro d’Italia form in the Critérium du Dauphiné, riding strongly in the finale of stages one and two and chasing a victory. He was runner up to Jurgen Van Den Broeck on Monday and netted fifth yesterday; those two performances have seen him take the green points jersey, but he emphasises that it isn’t his goal in the race.
“I knew that today’s finish was a hard one, so I’ve stayed at the front as much as I could,” he stated after the finish line. “My team led me out at perfection and I’ve tried to sprint. But the very end of the stage didn’t suit my characteristics. However I prove with this fifth place that I’m here with good form. I’m in my form of the Giro.”
The uphill finish at Lyon was on a climb, which normally plays in his favour, but it wasn’t quite steep enough to give him the edge. John Degenkolb (HTC Highroad) was quickest, the sprinter being able to use his power to overcome lighter climbers like Rodriguez. Still, with some tough mountain stages coming up, the Team Katusha rider will have some strong opportunities.
Before that, Rodriguez will face a discipline he doesn’t like so much; the race against the clock. He’s resigned to slipping back from his current sixth in the general classification, but will push as hard as he can during today’s 42.5 kilometre effort.
“I might lose quite a lot of time during the time trial, but I’ll do it at the maximum of my capacities because it’s a test for me and I want to deliver a good final GC result here,” he said. “However, my main goal remains to win a stage.”
He makes it clear that his target is not to hang on to the green jersey. “If I keep riding like this at the end of every stage, I might win the points classification, but this is not my priority.”
The 32 year old beat Alberto Contador to win a stage of the Tour de France last year. He’s however decided not to take part this season, reasoning over the winter that Giro-Vuelta campaigns could yield more in terms of results.
His Giro didn’t go quite as well as he hoped, though; he was fifth overall, and had best stage placings of second and third. Grabbing a stage victory in the Dauphiné would make up for that, and also give him a morale boost prior to the Spanish championships later this month.