Cycling journalist Raymond Kerckhoffs expects that the coming days will be crucial for Tom Dumoulin in the battle for a good final classification in the Tour of Italy. The Limburger mainly looks at the rides on Tuesday towards Etna and Sunday to Blockhaus.
Kerckhoffs told in the L1 program EveningGuests Sports also about the possible contract extension of Dumoulin.
Third place
Tom Dumoulin is in good shape after the first three days of the Tour of Italy. The man from Maastricht finished third in the time trial in Budapest last Saturday and is in the same place in the general classification. “He makes a good impression on me,” says Kerckhoffs. “Of course it remains to be seen. It is especially important for Dumoulin that he does not have bad luck in the coming days and that he keeps getting better. He is a rider who grows during a big round (Giro, Tour or Vuelta ed.).”
To trust
According to Kerckhoffs, Dumoulin mainly lacks the confidence to ride a good grand tour. “He hasn’t done a good big round since 2018. We will have a crucial ride over Etna on Tuesday. That is a bit of a strange mountain because there is a lot of wind so you can sit well in the wheel. So it is a fairly simple ride to survive and then next Sunday is going to be important.” On Sunday, the mountain stage to Blockhaus is on the program. Dumoulin finished third on that mountain in 2017. “He then won the confidence that he could compete with the best uphill and if he now gets that confirmation again, he will leave for a good Giro.”
Read also: Wout Poels sees opportunities on the Sicilian Etna
Contract extension
After the Tour of Italy, a possible contract extension of Dumoulin at Jumbo-Visma is being discussed. “I think it is good that it is not discussed until after the Giro. I think Jumbo-Visma wants to keep him if he drives a good Giro. It is a Dutch team, but there are fewer and fewer Dutch people driving. It is very important to keep him”, according to Kerckhoffs.