Team News – Victory for Joaquim Rodriguez

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Katusha’s 36 year old Joaquim Rodriguez celebrates Tour de France victory on Mur de Huy on stage 3 and wears the polka dot jumper

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Team News – Victory for Joaquim Rodriguez

Team Press Release | Photos: © Tim De Waele / Team Katusha

RodriguezMurdeHuy

It was familiar ground for Team Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez as he lit out for the finish line on the 1,1 km Mur de Huy and claimed the victory for the 3rd stage of the 2015 Tour de France. It was a move reminiscent of his 2012 win on the traditional finishing climb of Flèche Wallonne.

Rodriguez, age 36, celebrated his fourth win of the cycling season and brings the total to thirty-four for the team, a record in the history of Team Katusha. The hilltop success also gave Joaquim Rodriguez the polka dot jersey as the best climber in the general classification.

“I started the day with some fear after a bad night following my crash yesterday and some knee pain in the morning, but during the day I really felt good and then better and better. The team supported me also very well. It is a pity we had to lose Dmitriy Kozonchuk”.

“I did not see the crash as I was in front of it, but I could hear it. The speed was really high headed in the direction Mur de Huy. I even had to ask Giampaolo Caruso to slow down a bit. On the Mur everything went well. I attacked with 400 m to go. That is the perfect distance for me. I am explosive and this Mur suits me so well. The last time I wanted to wait a little longer and then I was closed in by others. I did not want to take that risk this time and I went full gas and it was perfect. I am so happy after the fabulous work of the team too” – said stage winner Joaquim Rodriguez.

RodriguezPolkaDot

“My condition is good. Also yesterday it was good. I just lost time due to flat tire and a crash at a bad moment. In the end I did not lose too much time. Paris is a long way to go and I am still very ambitious. This mountain jersey is nice. I would be happy with it in Paris but my real goal is a good GC” continued Joaquim Rodriguez.

Today is the pavé. “That is not at all my specialty” says the stage 3 winner. “I just hope to not crash and not lose too much time, and then the Tour can really start. But it has not been bad so far. I am proud and happy”  concluded Team Katusha leader Joaquim Rodriguez.

Stage 4 promises more excitement in a mini “Paris-Roubaix” as the race finally moves into France. The stage begins Seriang, Belgium and ends in Cambrai after the longest stage at 224 km. With small climbs up and down all day, the cobbled sections will feature prominently in this stage. Seven sectors of pavé over a distance of 13,3 km will make for an exciting fourth stage.

 

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