Joaquim Rodríguez

Rodríguez was born in Barcelona, the son of an amateur rider in the 1960s, and later lived in Parets del Vallès. Some years later he moved to the Basque country to ride for Iberdrola, an amateur team associated with the professional cycling team {{UCI team code|ONC|2001}}.{{cite web|url=http://kecprosport.com/purito/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=414&Itemid=174|title=Biografía|publisher=KEC Pro Sport SL|access-date=February 15, 2012|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428162316/http://kecprosport.com/purito/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=414&Itemid=174|archive-date=April 28, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.deia.com/2011/04/06/deportes/ciclismo/la-llama-del-purito |title=La llama del Purito |author=Alain Laiseka |date=April 6, 2011 |work=deia.com |access-date=February 15, 2012 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102095957/http://www.deia.com/2011/04/06/deportes/ciclismo/la-llama-del-purito |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }}

His nickname in the professional peloton is Purito, Spanish for little cigar, a name he was given in an early season training camp during his first year as a professional with {{UCI team code|ONC|2001}}. When some of his teammates stepped up the pace on a small climb, he passed them making a hand gesture appearing to be smoking a cigar, suggesting he was climbing without much effort. The gesture was not welcomed by his teammates, who made him smoke a real cigar as a hazing ritual later in the evening.{{cite web |url=http://www.letour.fr/2011/FWH/COURSE/us/actus.html#zone167140 |title=Rodríguez aims for the top |date=April 18, 2011 |work=letour.fr |access-date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110195220/http://www.letour.fr/2011/FWH/COURSE/us/actus.html#zone167140 |archive-date=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/07/17/874971-tour-de-france-purito-rodriguez-fume-la-pipe.html |title=Tour de France. "Purito" Rodriguez fume la pipe! |author=P.L |date=July 17, 2010 |work=ladepeche.fr |access-date=February 15, 2012|language=fr}}{{cite web |url=http://kecprosport.com/purito/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:hola-soy-purito-&catid=63:cer-2009&Itemid=173 |title=Hola, soy Purito |author=P.L |date=January 15, 2009 |work=Ciclismo en Ruta |publisher=KEC Pro Sport SL |access-date=February 15, 2012 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023134/http://kecprosport.com/purito/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:hola-soy-purito-&catid=63:cer-2009&Itemid=173 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

In 2001 he turned professional with {{UCI team code|ONC|2001}} after riding for the team in late 2000 as a stagiaire. In 2001, during his first season as a professional, he won the Escalada a Montjuïc, a race held in Barcelona.{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/oct01/montjuich01.shtml |title=38th Escalada a Montjuïc – Rodriguez ascends to the top in Barcelona |date=October 21, 2001 |work=Cycling News |access-date=February 15, 2012}} In 2003 he won the sixth stage of the Paris–Nice,{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/mar03/parisnice03/?id=results/stage6 |title=Rodríguez profits, as Vino maintains Paris–Nice lead |author=Tim Maloney |date=March 15, 2003 |work=Cycling News |access-date=February 15, 2012}} while he also won team time trials with {{UCI team code|ONC|2003}} at the Volta a Catalunya and Vuelta a España.

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In 2004 he joined {{UCI team code|SDV|2004}} and won the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme, a stage race held in Catalonia. The following year he won Subida a Urkiola and the Mountains classification of the Vuelta a España, while he finished second in the Clásica de San Sebastián and the Vuelta a Burgos.{{cite web |url=http://www.sonitron.net/noticia/joaquim-rodriguez-del-equipo-saunier-duval-rey-la-montana-la-vuelta-/620 |title=Joaquim Rodríguez, del equipo Saunier Duval, Rey de la Montaña en la Vuelta |date=September 20, 2005 |work=Sonitron.net |access-date=February 15, 2012 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127022753/http://www.sonitron.net/noticia/joaquim-rodriguez-del-equipo-saunier-duval-rey-la-montana-la-vuelta-/620 |archive-date=November 27, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

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After joining {{UCI team code|GCE|2006}} in 2006, he won the fifth stage of Paris–Nice. In 2007 he won the Spanish National Road Race Championships and also won the Klasika Primavera and Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia. In 2008 he won a stage to Montelupone at the third stage of Tirreno–Adriatico atop a {{convert|1.7|km|adj=on}} climb with sections over 20% in gradients which had many cyclists coming in after him get off and run while carrying their bikes or zig-zag up the climb since it was so steep, but he was one of the few who powered up the difficulty while riding a straight line.{{cite news|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/mar08/tirreno08/?id=results/tirreno083|title=Joaquím Rodríguez howls on Montelupone|website=Cycling News|date=14 March 2008|access-date=10 July 2012|author=Gregor Brown}} He also finished eighth at the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Later in the season he finished sixth in the Vuelta a España. In 2009 he repeated his stage victory at Montelupone, in Tirreno–Adriatico, while he ended second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The second half of the season was marked by a stage win at the Vuelta a Burgos, a seventh place in the overall classification of the Vuelta a España and a bronze medal in the World Road Race Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland.{{cite web |url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2663/Joaquim-Rodriguez-ready-for-fresh-start-with-Katusha.aspx |title=Joaquim Rodríguez ready for fresh start with Katusha |date=January 2, 2010 |work=velonation.com |access-date=February 15, 2012}}

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In 2010 he joined the Russian {{UCI team code|KAT|2010}}, which guaranteed him a position at the Tour de France and a leading role in certain races throughout the season. Early in the season Rodríguez won the Volta a Catalunya, the UCI ProTour race held around Catalonia, and later won the GP Miguel Induráin and a stage at the Tour of the Basque Country, where he eventually finished third. He also ended second behind Cadel Evans in La Flèche Wallonne. At the Tour de France he won the stage to Mende, which featured an uphill finish to the Côte de la Croix Neuve, with the finish line at the runway of the {{ill|Mende Aerodrome|fr|Aérodrome de Mende – Brenoux}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4917/Tour-de-France-Joaquin-Rodriguez-climbs-to-victory-in-Mende-as-Alberto-Contador-goes-on-the-offensive.aspx |title=Tour de France: Joaquin Rodriguez climbs to victory in Mende as Alberto Contador goes on the offensive |author=Ben Atkins |date=July 16, 2010 |work=Velo Nation |access-date=February 15, 2012}} Rodríguez finished eighth at the Tour de France. He continued his strong performance during the season with a fifth place at the Clásica de San Sebastián and a fourth place in the overall classification at the Vuelta a España, winning the stage to Peña Cabarga. He was the leader in the race until the final 48 km time-trial in stage 17 in Peñafiel when he lost it to Nibali.{{cite web |url=http://www.elcorreo.com/agencias/20100907/deportes/mas-deportes/purito-rodriguez-conocia-mieles-liderato_201009071948.html |title="Purito" Rodríguez ya conocía las mieles del liderato |date=September 7, 2010 |work=EFE |publisher=elcorreo.com |access-date=February 15, 2012 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605173827/http://www.elcorreo.com/agencias/20100907/deportes/mas-deportes/purito-rodriguez-conocia-mieles-liderato_201009071948.html |archive-date=June 5, 2013 }} Rodríguez topped the UCI World Ranking at the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/503574/rodriguez-tops-2010-world-ranking.html |title=Rodriguez tops 2010 World Ranking |author=Nigel Wynn |date=October 18, 2010 |work=Cycling Weekly |access-date=February 15, 2012}}

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In 2011 he won a stage at the Tour of the Basque Country and finished second behind Philippe Gilbert at both the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. He later finished fifth at the Giro d'Italia and won the stages to Le Collet d'Allevard and La Toussuire in the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he won the points and mountains classifications and finished fifth overall. He skipped the Tour de France to concentrate on the races at the end of the season, mainly the Vuelta a España, where he was considered a possible candidate for winning the race.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/classics-giro-and-vuelta-for-rodriguez-in-2012 |title=Classics, Giro and Vuelta for Rodriguez in 2012 |date=November 2, 2011 |work=Cycling News |access-date=February 15, 2012}} He started the second half of the season by finishing fourth at the Clásica de San Sebastián and winning the overall classification and a stage at the Vuelta a Burgos. He started the Vuelta a España with stage victories at Valdepeñas de Jaén and San Lorenzo de El Escorial, where he captured the leader's jersey, but soon faded and eventually finished the race nineteenth overall.{{cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/joaquim-rodriguez-takes-stage-8-lead-in-2011-vuelta-a-espana_190064 |title=Joaquim Rodriguez takes stage 8, lead in 2011 Vuelta a España |author=Andrew Hood |date=August 27, 2011 |work=Velo News |publisher=competitor.com |access-date=February 15, 2012}} He ended the season with a third place at the Giro di Lombardia.

File:Giro d'Italia 2012, giau 140 rodriguez uran (17600510399).jpg leader, at the 2012 Giro d'Italia]]

On 18 April 2012, he won La Flèche Wallonne in Belgium with a superb climb on the Mur de Huy and finished second in the Tour of the Basque Country. Rodríguez took his good form into the Giro d'Italia where he won two stages and finished second overall to Canadian Ryder Hesjedal. He was always competitive with the general classification contenders in the high mountains, and held the maglia rosa coming into the final individual time trial, where he lost 47 seconds to Hesjedal, therefore losing the overall lead by 16 seconds. However, he won the points classification jersey, with a slim lead of one point (139 to 138) over Mark Cavendish.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-21/results |title=Ryder Hesjedal wins the Giro d'Italia |author=Pete Cossins |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=23 August 2012 |website=Cycling News|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313052557/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-21/results |archive-date=13 March 2015 }}

On the Vuelta a España, Rodríguez almost took the win on stage 3, but Alejandro Valverde popped up on his right to steal the victory in a photo finish, and snatched the red jersey.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results|title=Valverde claims photo finish on Eibar|website=Cycling News|date=21 August 2012|access-date=25 August 2012|author=Daniel Benson}} On the next stage, a big crash occurred involving Valverde. Rodríguez took the lead in the overall classification, arriving with the remnants of the bunch atop the climb of the Orduña.{{cite web|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12688/Vuelta-a-Espana-Simon-Clarke-wins-in-stage-four-breakaway-as-Valverde-loses-to-a-crash.aspx|title=Vuelta a España: Simon Clarke wins in stage four breakaway as Valverde loses to a crash|work=Velo Nation|publisher=Velo Nation LLC|date=21 August 2012|access-date=23 August 2012|author=Ben Atkins}} He took the sixth stage, the majority of it was flat but the riders had to tackle with two Category 3 climbs near the conclusion, the line being situated atop the last one, the Fuerte del Rapitán in Jaca. With {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} remaining, Chris Froome launched an attack which only Rodríguez could follow, before passing the {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}} rider and grabbing both the victory and the twelve-second time bonus.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/joaquim-rodriguez-defends-vuelta-lead-with-stage-6-victory_235571|title=Joaquim Rodríguez defends Vuelta lead with stage-6 victory|work=Velo News|publisher=2012 Competitor Group, Inc.|date=23 August 2012|access-date=25 August 2012|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003153950/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/joaquim-rodriguez-defends-vuelta-lead-with-stage-6-victory_235571|url-status=dead}} The scenario repeated itself on stage 12, where Rodríguez escaped from the lead group with Alberto Contador on the final difficulty of the day, the very steep climb Mirador de Ézaro. The pair broke away in a section that had a gradient approaching 20%, and Rodríguez soon powered away from Contador to take his second stage of the Vuelta with an eight-second margin over Contador.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12761/Vuelta-a-Espana-Rodriguez-scoops-second-stage-win-with-powerful-finishing-surge.aspx|title=Vuelta a España: Rodriguez scoops second stage win with powerful finishing surge|work=Velo Nation|publisher=Velo Nation LLC|date=30 August 2012|access-date=31 August 2012|author=Shane Stokes}} On the mountainous stage 14, Rodríguez played the same trick on Contador again on the final climb, with Contador attacking with two kilometers to go and looking very likely to take the victory. Rodríguez got back to him, his rival attacked again and Rodríguez surged ahead to take the win.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12774/Vuelta-Devastating-surge-sees-Rodriguez-overhaul-Contador-for-another-stage-win.aspx|title=Vuelta: Devastating surge sees Rodriguez overhaul Contador for another stage win|work=Velo Nation|publisher=Velo Nation LLC|date=1 September 2012|access-date=2 September 2012|author=Shane Stokes}} Disaster struck for him on stage 17, where Contador slipped into a breakaway and went on to win the stage solo, as Rodríguez could not respond and was relegated to third place overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results|title=Contador solos to stage win, Vuelta lead|website=Cycling News|date=5 September 2012|access-date=8 September 2012|author=Susan Westemeyer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908010743/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results|archive-date=8 September 2012}} Despite his attacks on the penultimate stage in the steep climb of Bola del Mondo, Rodríguez could not improve his third placing although he gained some time on Contador.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-20/results|title=Menchov prevails on the Bola del Mundo|website=Cycling News|date=8 September 2012|access-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910091958/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-20/results|archive-date=10 September 2012}}

Rodríguez went to Italy to compete in the Giro di Lombardia, where he had the opportunity to take the first place in the 2012 UCI World Tour detained by Bradley Wiggins. He did exactly that by winning the race under heavy rain and temperatures oscillating around {{convert|10|C|F}}. He attacked on the final difficulty of the day, the Villa Vergano climb. He arrived at the top of the difficulty alone and descended to Lecco, claiming the victory with a gap of 9 seconds.{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12956/Joaquim-Rodriguez-solos-to-a-rainy-Lombardia-victory-and-grabs-WorldTour-lead.aspx|title=Joaquim Rodríguez solos to a rainy Lombardia victory and grabs WorldTour lead|work=CyclingNation|publisher=CyclingNation LLC|date=29 September 2012|access-date=1 October 2012|author=Ben Atkins}}

In 2013, Rodríguez started his season winning stage 4 in the Tour of Oman, where he ended up finishing fourth overall. He later won stage five of Tirreno–Adriatico and went on to finish fifth overall, after following an attack from Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali on stage 6 and gaining time on his rivals.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/03/news/sagan-wins-wild-tirreno-adriatico-stage-6_277570|title=Sagan wins wild Tirreno–Adriatico stage 6|work=VeloNews|date=11 March 2013|access-date=22 October 2013}} Rodríguez rode the Volta a Catalunya and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, where at both races he finished second behind Dan Martin. Rodríguez later aimed for a high finish in the Tour de France.

In the Tour, Rodríguez had a quiet start and after the first time trial on stage 11, Rodríguez was eleventh overall, over five minutes behind the race leader. Rodríguez picked up his form on stage 15 in which he finished fourth on Mont Ventoux, moving him into the top ten. He later finished third on the uphill time trial stage. On stage 18, he moved into the top five after finishing fifth on Alpe d'Huez, gaining a minute on race leader Chris Froome. On the mountainous stage 20 to Annecy–Semnoz, he finished second behind Nairo Quintana. However, Rodríguez managed to move into a podium position in the final general classification after gaining over a minute over Alberto Contador and Roman Kreuziger.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/07/news/after-late-tour-surge-joaquim-rodriguez-casts-one-eye-toward-vuelta_296177|title=After late-Tour surge, Joaquim Rodríguez casts one eye toward Vuelta|work=VeloNation|date=20 July 2013|access-date=22 October 2013|author=Andrew Hood}}

After the Tour de France, he took a long break and then came as the leader of {{UCI team code|KAT|2013}} at the start of the Vuelta a España, a race he twice finished on the podium in the past. One of the favorites at the start of the race, Rodríguez won the 19th stage and finished fourth in the overall classification, more than three minutes behind winner Chris Horner.{{cite news|url=http://road.cc/content/news/93589-vuleta-stage-19-joaquin-rodrigiuez-takes-stage-and-chris-horner-snatches-race|title=Vuelta Stage 19: Joaquin Rodriguez takes the stage – and Chris Horner snatches race lead|work=RoadCC|publisher=Farrelly Atkinson Ltd|date=13 September 2013|access-date=22 October 2013|author=Simon McMichael}} Afterwards, he raced the World Championships, where he came short of winning the rainbow jersey, after being caught by eventual winner Rui Costa in the last kilometer. One week later, Rodríguez took revenge for his defeat at the Giro di Lombardia, winning for the second consecutive year with a perfectly timed attack on the Villa Vergano climb.{{cite news|url=http://road.cc/content/news/95913-joaquim-rodriguez-doubles-win-il-lombardia-second-year-running|title=Joaquim Rodríguez doubles up to win il Lombardia for second year running|work=RoadCC|publisher=Farrelly Atkinson Ltd|date=6 October 2013|access-date=22 October 2013|author=Simon McMichael}}

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Rodríguez's first race of the season was the Tour de San Luis, where he finished 71st, without making an impact in the mountains. After this, Rodríguez went to the Dubai Tour and the Tour of Oman, where he eventually finished fourth, behind Chris Froome, Tejay van Garderen, and Rigoberto Urán.{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/cycling/news/15264/9181040/chris-froome-wins-tour-of-oman-for-second-successive-year-as-andre-greipel-claims-last-stage|title=Chris Froome retains Tour of Oman title as André Greipel triumphs on final stage|author=Matt Westby|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=23 February 2014|access-date=2 June 2014}} For the first time in four years, Rodríguez skipped Tirreno–Adriatico, choosing instead to prepare for the Ardennes Classics on the Teide on Tenerife. He then came back to racing in the Volta a Catalunya, where he won the third stage and the general classification, for the second time in his career.{{cite news|url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/cycling-rodriguez-seals-second-tour-catalunya-triumph-154530621--spt.html|title=Rodriguez seals second Tour of Catalunya triumph|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|date=30 March 2014|access-date=2 June 2014|agency=Reuters|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331011912/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/cycling-rodriguez-seals-second-tour-catalunya-triumph-154530621--spt.html|archive-date=31 March 2014}} Rodríguez was forced to quit the Giro d'Italia after a serious crash in stage six where he suffered a broken rib and fractured thumb.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/05/news/gc-contender-rodriguez-abandons-giro-after-stage-6-crash_328029|title=GC contender Rodriguez abandons Giro after stage 6 crash|author=Gregor Brown|date=15 May 2014|access-date=2 June 2014|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018144414/http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/05/news/gc-contender-rodriguez-abandons-giro-after-stage-6-crash_328029|url-status=dead}} He finished the Vuelta a España just off the podium, in fourth place overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-espana-2014/stage-21/results|title=Contador seals overall 2014 Vuelta a España victory|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=14 September 2014|access-date=14 September 2014}}

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Rodríguez started his season somewhat late and quietly by taking thirteenth place overall in Tirreno–Adriatico. He mounted on the third step of the podium twice in stages of that race. He had his first win of the season on a mountainous third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, outsprinting Nairo Quintana and Sergio Henao after a descent in Zumarraga.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/joaquim-rodriguez-pips-sergio-henao-to-win-tour-of-the-basque-country-stage-three-165728|title=Joaquim Rodríguez pips Sergio Henao to win Tour of the Basque Country stage three|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Sports & Leisure network|date=8 April 2015|access-date=8 April 2015|author=Stuart Clarke}} He repeated his winning ways on the very next day, on the queen stage, winning the sprint after the final climb.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-ciclista-al-pais-vasco-2015/stage-4/results|title=Pais Vasco: Rodriguez wins stage 4 in Arrate|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=9 April 2015|access-date=9 April 2015|author=Kirsten Frattini}} In the final time trial, Rodríguez finished second overall to overtake race leader Henao by 13 seconds to win the race overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/joaquim-rodriguez-wins-tour-of-the-basque-country-166158|author=Stephen Puddicombe|work=Cycling Weekly|date=11 April 2015|access-date=23 July 2017|title=Joaquim Rodríguez wins Tour of the Basque Country}} In the Ardennes Classics, Rodríguez finished fourth at La Flèche Wallonne.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-2015/results|title=Valverde wins La Fleche Wallonne 2015|website=Cyclingnews.com|date=22 April 2015|access-date=26 April 2015}} He then took a podium spot at Liège–Bastogne–Liège as he was outsprinted by Alejandro Valverde and Julian Alaphilippe.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/alejandro-valverde-wins-liege-bastogne-liege-2015-168251|title=Alejandro Valverde wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2015|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Sports & Leisure network|date=26 April 2015|access-date=26 April 2015|author=Nigel Wynn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091736/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/alejandro-valverde-wins-liege-bastogne-liege-2015-168251|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In the Tour de France, Rodríguez won the third stage finishing atop the Mur de Huy.{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/07/race-report/rodriguez-wins-tour-stage-3-froome-takes-yellow-jersey_376690|title=Rodriguez wins Tour stage 3, Froome takes yellow jersey|work=VeloNews|date=6 July 2015|access-date=6 July 2015|author=Spencer Powlison|archive-date=6 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606101001/http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/07/race-report/rodriguez-wins-tour-stage-3-froome-takes-yellow-jersey_376690|url-status=dead}} Rodríguez also won the twelfth stage atop the Plateau de Beille, his first Tour de France win on a mountain stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/chris-froome-safe-in-tour-de-france-lead-as-joaquim-rodriguez-wins-stage-12-182894|title=Chris Froome safe in Tour de France lead as Joaquim Rodríguez wins stage 12|work=Cycling Weekly|date=16 July 2015|access-date=16 July 2015|author=Nigel Wynn}}

File:Tour de France 2016, rodriguez (28595459015) (cropped).jpg]]

Rodríguez struggled in the early part of the season, partly due to illness,{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-warns-poor-weather-could-make-tough-vuelta-al-pais-vasco-even-harder/ |title=Rodriguez warns poor weather could make tough Vuelta al Pais Vasco even harder|author=Alasdair Fotheringham|author-link=Alasdair Fotheringham|date=2 April 2016|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=15 April 2016}} however he recovered somewhat with a fifth place in the Tour of the Basque Country.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-ciclista-al-pais-vasco-2016/stage-6/results/ |title=Contador wins final time trial to secure overall title at Vuelta al Pais Vasco|author=Daniel Benson|date=9 April 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=15 April 2016}} His stated aim for the Tour de France was to achieve a top ten finish in the general classification, and his bid started strongly, holding third place overall after the first stage in the Pyrenees.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-bids-emotional-goodbye-to-tour-de-france/ |title=Rodriguez bids emotional goodbye to Tour de France|author=Sadhbh O'Shea|date=25 July 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=7 August 2016}} On the first rest day of the Tour, Rodríguez announced that he would retire from competition at the end of the season, confirming that he was hoping to compete in the Rio Olympics and the Vuelta a España before the end of the year.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/joaquim-rodriguez-announces-that-he-will-retire-at-the-end-of-2016/ |title=Joaquim Rodriguez announces that he will retire at the end of 2016|date=11 July 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=11 July 2016}} Subsequently, his performances dipped somewhat in the second week of the race, dropping him down to 12th in the general classification following a couple of bad days. However he rallied in the final week, going on the attack on the final mountain stage to Morzine in treacherous weather to move up to his final overall position of seventh. On the final stage, Rodríguez was granted the honour of leading the peloton onto the Champs-Élysées to mark his final appearance in the race.

After the Tour, he headed to the Clásica de San Sebastián, where he finished fourth and was awarded the prize for most aggressive rider. After the race he told the media that the Clásica was his final competition in Spain, ruling out participation in the Vuelta a España, whilst Katusha directeur sportif Xavier Florencio described Rodríguez's ride in San Sebastián as being his last for the team.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/purito-rodriguez-says-adios-to-spain-at-the-clasica-san-sebastian/ |title=Purito Rodriguez says 'adios' to Spain at the Clásica de San Sebastián|date=31 July 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=7 August 2016}} Rodríguez finished fifth in the Olympic road race in his first Olympic appearance. After the race he confirmed that he would retire immediately, rather than continuing to the end of the year.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-calls-time-on-his-career-after-olympic-games-debut/ |title=Rodriguez calls time on his career after Olympic Games debut|date=7 August 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=7 August 2016}} However, in September it was reported that Katusha would enter Rodríguez into the Trittico di Autunno classics and the Abu Dhabi Tour before the end of the year, with his contract with the team not expiring until 31 December.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/joaquim-rodriguez-shelves-immediate-retirement-ride-il-lombardia-282936 |title=Joaquim Rodríguez forced to shelve immediate retirement plans|author=Stuart Clarke|date=8 September 2016 |website=Cycling Weekly |access-date=26 September 2016}} He failed to finish in all three Trittico di Autunno races, his final race being the Il Lombardia.

In October 2016, it was announced that Rodríguez would join {{UCI team code|TBM|2017}} for the 2017 season, initially as one of the team's riders before joining the squad's backroom staff from 2018 onwards.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/joaquim-rodriguez-delays-retirement-to-race-with-bahrain-merida-in-2017/|title=Joaquim Rodriguez delays retirement to race with Bahrain-Merida in 2017|date=20 October 2016|access-date=23 July 2017|website=Cyclingnews.com}} However, Rodríguez announced his retirement once again, in December 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/joaquim-rodriguez-decides-not-to-race-in-2017/|title=Joaquim Rodriguez decides not to race in 2017|date=9 December 2016|access-date=23 July 2017|website=Cyclingnews.com}} He joined the squad's backroom staff, becoming an ambassador for the team.

Source: {{cite web|url=https://firstcycling.com/rider.php?r=246|title=Joaquim Rodríguez|work=FirstCycling.com|publisher=FirstCycling AS|accessdate=22 July 2023}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

;2001 (2 pro wins)

: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

::1st Stage 1a

: 3rd Subida a Urkiola

: 8th Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama

;2002

: 6th Klasika Primavera

;2003 (2)

: Vuelta a España

::1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 8

::Held {{cjersey|gold}} after Stages 2–3

::Held {{cjersey|white}} after Stages 2–3 & 8

: 1st Stage 6 Paris–Nice

: 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Volta a Catalunya

: 3rd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

: 8th Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme

: 9th Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli

: 10th Trofeo Calvià

;2004 (1)

: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme

: 3rd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

: 6th Overall Vuelta a Andalucía

: 10th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

;2005 (1)

: 1st 20px Mountains classification, Vuelta a España

: 1st Subida a Urkiola

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

: 2nd Clásica de San Sebastián

: 3rd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

: 4th Klasika Primavera

: 10th GP Miguel Induráin

;2006 (2)

: 1st Stage 5 Paris–Nice

: 3rd Overall Escalada a Montjuïc

::1st Stage 1a

: 3rd Klasika Primavera

;2007 (3)

: 1st {{cjersey|spain}} Road race, National Road Championships

: 1st Klasika Primavera

: 1st Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia

: 2nd GP Miguel Induráin

: 5th Overall Tour du Limousin

: 8th Subida a Urkiola

: 9th Overall Tour of the Basque Country

: 10th Overall Paris–Nice

;2008 (1)

: 1st Stage 3 Tirreno–Adriatico

: 3rd GP Miguel Induráin

: 5th Subida a Urkiola

: 6th Road race, UCI Road World Championships

: 6th Overall Vuelta a España

: 8th Amstel Gold Race

: 8th La Flèche Wallonne

: 8th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

;2009 (2)

: 1st Stage 4 Tirreno–Adriatico

: 1st Stage 2 Vuelta a Burgos

: 2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège

: 2nd Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia

: 3rd 15px Road race, UCI Road World Championships

: 6th Japan Cup

: 7th Overall Vuelta a España

;2010 (5)

: 1st UCI World Ranking

: 1st {{cjersey|Volta a Catalunya}} Overall Volta a Catalunya

: 1st GP Miguel Induráin

: 2nd La Flèche Wallonne

: 3rd Overall Tour of the Basque Country

::1st Stage 5

: 3rd Overall Vuelta a España

::1st Stage 14

::Held {{cjersey|red}} after Stages 10 & 16

::Held {{cjersey|white}} after Stages 14–19

: 5th Clásica de San Sebastián

: 6th Overall Tour de France

::1st Stage 12

: 6th Overall Paris–Nice

: 9th Overall Tour de Suisse

;2011 (7)

: 1st {{cjersey|purple}} Overall Vuelta a Burgos

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st Stage 2

: Vuelta a España

::1st Stages 5 & 8

::Held {{cjersey|red}} after Stages 8

::Held {{cjersey|green}} after Stages 6, 8–16 & 18–20

: 1st Stage 1 Tour of the Basque Country

: 2nd Amstel Gold Race

: 2nd La Flèche Wallonne

: 3rd UCI World Tour

: 3rd Clásica de San Sebastián

: 3rd Circuito de Getxo

: 3rd Giro di Lombardia

: 4th Overall Giro d'Italia

: 5th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st 20px Mountains classification

::1st Stages 6 & 7

: 6th Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia

: 6th Giro dell'Emilia

: 9th GP Miguel Induráin

;2012 (10)

: 1st UCI World Tour

: 1st Giro di Lombardia

: 1st La Flèche Wallonne

: 2nd Overall Giro d'Italia

::1st {{cjersey|red}} Points classification

::1st Stages 10 & 17

::Held {{cjersey|pink}} after Stages 10–13 & 15–20

: 2nd Overall Tour of the Basque Country

::1st Stages 4 & 5

: 3rd Overall Vuelta a España

::1st Stages 6, 12 & 14

::Held {{cjersey|red}} after Stages 4–16

::Held {{cjersey|green}} after Stages 9 & 12–20

::Held {{cjersey|white}} after Stages 4–20

: 4th Milano–Torino

: 6th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

::1st Stage 6

: 7th Overall Tour of Oman

: 8th Clásica de San Sebastián

;2013 (4)

: 1st UCI World Tour

: 1st Giro di Lombardia

: 2nd 15px Road race, UCI Road World Championships

: 2nd Overall Volta a Catalunya

: 2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège

: 3rd Overall Tour de France

: 4th Overall Vuelta a España

::1st Stage 19

: 4th Overall Tour of Oman

::1st Stage 4

: 5th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

::1st Stage 5

: 6th La Flèche Wallonne

;2014 (2)

: 1st {{cjersey|Volta a Catalunya}} Overall Volta a Catalunya

::1st Stage 3

: 3rd Clásica de San Sebastián

: 4th Overall Tour of Oman

: 4th Overall Vuelta a España

: 5th Milano–Torino

: 8th Giro di Lombardia

: Tour de France

::Held {{cjersey|polkadot}} after Stages 10–12, 14–15

;2015 (6)

: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall Tour of the Basque Country

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Points classification

::1st Stages 3 & 4

: Tour de France

::1st Stages 3 & 12

::Held {{cjersey|polkadot}} after Stages 3–5, 18

: 2nd UCI World Tour

: 2nd Overall Vuelta a España

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Combination classification

::1st Stage 15

::Held {{cjersey|red}} after Stage 16

::Held {{cjersey|green}} after Stages 15–20

: 3rd Liège–Bastogne–Liège

: 4th La Flèche Wallonne

: 5th Clásica de San Sebastián

: 8th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné

;2016

: 4th Clásica de San Sebastián

: 5th Road race, Olympic Games

: 5th Overall Tour of the Basque Country

: 7th Overall Tour de France

: 8th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

;2019

: 1st 20px Overall Masters Cape Epic (with José Antonio Hermida)

{{div col end}}

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Category:Spanish male cyclists

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