Dumoulin contemplating Giro-Tour Double
Tom Dumoulin from Team Sunweb is now considering racing for both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France titles this season
The first Dutchman to win the Giro d'Italia, Tom is defending his title at the 2018 Giro d'Italia next May and could be looking to go on to attempt to win the 2018 Tour de France.
It took 37 years before a Dutchman won a Grand Tour, Belgium 42 years and France 33 years. Producing a Grand Tour winner takes a lot of time and investment. Team Sunweb have one of the best development programs, delivering Dumoulin a multiple Gran Tour winner and could deliver a German Grand Tour winner in the future.
The 27 year old was a star attraction at the Team's presentation last week in Berlin, Germany.
Speaking to De Telegraaf Doumoulin said “Yes, that is indeed an option for me next summer, I think it is not impossible to combine two Grand Tours. Certainly so because there is a week extra this year because of the World Cup, which offers more possibilities for recovery after the Giro d'Italia”
Tour de France organizer's ASO moved its race back one week, which runs from July 7-29, to avoid overlapping too much with the 2018 FIFA World Cup, T
Dumoulin has taken note of team Sky's former domestique Mikel Landa, “I inoticed Mikel Landa’s approach, In my eyes, a lot of riders have made the mistake in the past by focusing on both the Giro and the Tour from the start of the season. As a result, they were probably already in the Giro with the classification in the Tour in mind. It is a mindset that does not work. I think you should focus completely on the Giro and only then have to look further.”
Dumoulin won the 2017 Giro d’Italia, overhauling Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) in the final time trial. Dumoulin rode the fastest two time trials and rode strongly in the mountains with his team.
“After the Giro there are four possibilities: the Tour de France overall or stage wins, a domestique for Wilco Kelderman in the Vuelta, or something else” Dumoulin said. “Only after the Giro we will cross that bridge.”