Cycling analyst Raymond Kerckhoffs is concerned about the small number of race kilometers of Tom Dumoulin in the run-up to the Tour of Italy. “He only rides the Tour of Catalonia and the Amstel Gold Race.”
Kerckhoffs was a guest in the L1 program on Monday evening EveningGuests Sports†
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Dumoulin missed the Strade Bianche last Saturday due to a positive corona test. According to Kerckhoffs, that was a setback for the Maastricht resident. “The UAE Tour was a bit disappointing for Dumoulin. In the time trial he was fine, but he could not bring the power uphill. That must not have sat him well,” said the cycling analyst. “Then you go to the Strade Bianche. Then you wake up in the morning, you have to test first and you are told that you are positive. It starts to be a lot of blows that he has to take.”
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Week
Dumoulin’s positive corona test also has consequences for the training program of the Maastricht citizen. “I heard from the peloton that you can’t ride your program for a week after all,” said Kerckhoffs. “That is not a problem for the Giro d’Italia, but it could already have an effect for the Tour of Catalonia in a few weeks.”
Match Rhythm
According to Kerckhoffs, Dumoulin’s loss of time in the UAE Tour does not say much for the Tour of Italy. “What I am concerned about is that it is becoming increasingly clear that he needs race rhythm. He only drives Catalonia and the Amstel Gold Race (on April 10, ed.) and then he goes on an altitude training course in preparation for the Giro d’Italia. I would have preferred him to ride the Tour de Romandie first and then go to the Giro,” says Kerckhoffs, who thinks the program will not be changed.