Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha always wants more. And always slightly misses it out. Coming of age lately for a professional cyclist, the 35-year old Spaniard seems to become stronger and stronger, staying at the top of UCI individual standings for a second consecutive year, yet still without the Grand Tour trophies he is constantly dreaming about. In an interview for Biciciclismo, ambitious “Purito” told about his preparations and main objectives concerning the 2014 season, as well as he once again mourned over his last World Championship race lost to Portuguese Rui Costa.

 

" I would love to win a Grand Tour. I deserve it , " he says, modestly as always.

 

Despite his age, Rodriguez still believes that the best in his career as a professional cyclist is yet to come and he reports no problems with finding the right motivation to proceed with hard trainings and living a life away from his family. Every next time he slightly misses an opportunity to raise his hands in glory, what happens very often considering an almost endless string of second, third and fourth places from major events in his palmares, makes Purito even more hungry and convinced that he deserves something more that just podium spots.

 

The issue became even more flagrant than usually after the last World Championships held in Florence, when Rodriguez couldn’t help blaming his team-mate Alejandro Valverde for his loss, as the latter decided not to follow Rui Costa in his final move.

 

“Valverde was wrong ," he repeats

 

“I was very angry with him, of course, and have the thought that he was wrong not to follow the move and that he could be world champion ... But this is racing, period.”

 

I do not believe he didn’t have legs, I think he didn’t have head. For now, I’m certain he behaved wickedly,” Rodriguez questioned Valverde’s argumentation on not following Rui Costa in the race.

 

As years are passing by, Spanish climber famous for his explosiveness works even harder prior to achieving his goals. He kicked-off 2014 strongly coming to Argentina over a week earlier to get familiarized with the route of Tour de San Luis and to ride himself into a proper disposition.

 

Once again, he set himself only great goals for the coming season, and his racing schedule, with which he is utterly satisfied, is planned in slightest details.

 

“The goal is to win a Grand Tour. Clearly, this year it is going to be the Giro or Vuelta a Espana victory, I’ll try to claim. I’ve been very close many times, especially in 2012. This year thing are proceeding well, the base is good and I like the calendar. The work is now focused on the Liege and the Giro,” Rodriguez outlined his main goals for 2014 in the interview for Biciciclismo.

 

“We start here [at Tour de San Luis], we ride Dubai and Oman, and then I will undergo a long training camp on Pico de Teide [Tenerife] before Vuelta a Catalunya, about 32-33 days, even my family would join me there for a few days. After Catalunya I have scheduled 20 more days of altitude training before Amstel Gold race.”

 

“This year I have to sacrifice the Tirreno-Adriatico and Vuelta al Pais Vasco.”

 

While reflecting on his complex preparation period and main objectives of the new season, Spanish rider shared his thoughts about the course of next World Championship road race, to be held in Ponferrada.

 

“Concerning the Worlds, almost everyone has told me the route is not hard. But watch out, as there are 19 laps to be tackled.”

 

On few different occasions Rodriguez repeats during the interview, that the age is none of his concerns, as he feels more ready than ever to finally reach for glory in Grand Tour races and the Classics, and that his Russian Katusha team plays a very important role in his revival.

 

“The right moment arrives. After the 2012 season I expected the previous one to be easier, but it didn’t turned out to be this way. I have not been that close to victory, apart from the their week of the tour and the Vuelta.”

 

“I’m not tired. The truth is I enjoy it. Katusha became my second youth this year. Every next year I feel more comfortable there and more united with the group.”

 

“Now I’m fine. Age… Who sets the limit? I’m better than ever, I amuse myself, should I leave because the calendar says I’m 37-year old? Maybe I have bad seasons in 2014 and 2015, and then I’ll call it a career.”

 

Spanish climber also admits, stating the obvious, that the mental strength is just as important as having the body prepared properly to such a big efforts, and once again he underlines, that while at this point of his career his enjoys riding Grand Tour races and Classics equally, becoming the winner of the first stays on his mind all the time as a main ambition.

 

“The truth reminds me that I was there at least, that the work has been done properly. And winning is very complicated. You face many riders, and all of them are eager to reach for the glory. I am sure that any rider would settle for the palmares that I have.”

 

“I would love to win a Grand Tour, or two,” Rodriguez reminded.

 

“After recent years, especially with all what have happened to me, being so close and eventually missing it out.. I treasure any good result, but I’m dreaming about winning the Grand Tour. Hopefully I will. Or Liege. We have to wait and see.”