Tom Dumoulin has had a difficult period. He missed a large part of the previous season at Sunweb due to a knee injury and after his switch to Jumbo-Visma at the end of last year, things did not go smoothly. The 29-year-old Dutchman even considered quitting. He said that today at the Dutch NOS after the final stage in the Tour in Paris.
“I had a really bad time after my knee injury. Then my intestinal complaints came over in the spring and then the corona virus came along. I can tell you that stopping was closer to me than continuing. That feeling was so strong. , Yes.”
“From May I tried to pick up the thread again. I jumped on the bike and started working for the Tour. Gradually things got better and better.”
A role as second leader next to Primoz Roglic was not an option for Dumoulin in this Tour. But the Dutchman did set a hell of a time trial on Saturday. He finished second at La Planche des Belles Filles, 1’21 “from the unapproachable Tadej Pogacar.
“I looked at my values, they were world championship values. I was very good and that’s why I was so surprised that Pogacar was still 1’21” faster. “
–
In the general classification Dumoulin eventually finished seventh. “That I would be seventh in the Tour and that I could compete for the win on Saturday, I really wouldn’t have believed that if you had told me that in April.”
“To this day I am actually not quite comfortable on the bike. I don’t have the feeling that I am looking for. That is why I am very proud of myself that I still finished seventh.”
Dumoulin is now going to recover at home first. The Dutchman normally travels to Italy for the World Cup on Wednesday. “That is still a bit provisional. It depends on how I feel. It has all been quite a lot and I do not want to ask myself too much this year and then take that back to next season, that is of no use to me either.”
“I had agreed with national coach Koos Moerenhout to see how I survived this Tour. I will now have a nice rest for two days. And then you will probably see me again in Imola.”
–
