Rodriguez sheds frustration, dons motivation

By Andrew Hood Published 11 hours ago Rodrguez en route to winning the 2013 Giro di Lombardia. Photo: Graham Watson | http://www.grahamwatson.com

MADRID (VN) Joaquim Rodrguez is fed up with being Mr. Runner Up.

The 2013 season saw the eternally consistent Spaniard come ever closer to a major result that would catapult him into the realm of the elites, with third in the Tour de France and a gut-wrenching second at the world championships.

Rather than grow frustrated, Rodrguez remains optimistic that luck and fate will eventually turn his way. The important thing, the Katusha captain says, is to keep knocking on the door.

I start this season with the same motivation as ever, Rodrguez told VeloNews in a recent interview. I think winning a grand tour is the only thing that is missing. Lige-Bastogne-Lige is another race I love, and one that I want to win. To win a grand tour, and the world title, that would complete my career and give me a great palmares. There is still plenty to keep me motivated.

Rodrguez has come painstakingly close to winning both the rainbow jersey and a grand tour. In 2012, he lost the Giro dItalia by 16 seconds to Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp). And last fall, Portugals Rui Costa caught the attacking Rodrguez near the line and then pipped him to relegate the Spaniard to bridesmaid status again.

That pent-up frustration and disappointment came pouring out of Rodrguez, who could not hide his emotions any longer.

Everything was pouring out of me on the podium, he said. We are people, too. We are professionals, and this is our job, but we cannot forget that we arrived to be pros because of a deep love for the bike. You have to remember that all of us started out as kids on the bike, and even though things change when youre a pro, that love for the bike always remains there.

On this day, for impotence, for anger, for circumstances of the race, for the desire of dreaming about ones entire life to be world champion, to lose it in the final moment, I just couldnt hold it back. Ive asked for forgiveness because it was a bit sad to see these images but before a moment like this theres no way to keep the emotions in check.

The 34-year-old Catalan admits it wont be easy to turn the page on the frustration of the worlds, but says he has no other choice.

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Rodriguez sheds frustration, dons motivation