2019 was a downturn. A really big downturn. In each fall sport.
Cykelstjernen Tom Dumoulin has not had a good time. After two seasons in 2017 and 2018 when he won the Giro d’italia, ended up on the podium in several grand tours and was the world champion in the time trial, it went suddenly down hill for the dutchman in the year, where a crash in the Giro cost him a serious injury.
He had to retire and did not have to be ready for the Tour de France, there was also a great goal.
“the Year has been two-part. In a way, it was very disappointing, but on the other hand, has throughout the period been liberating for me. The last two months, since my surgery has really been good. I enjoyed the time away from the professional cycling, and now I am again filled with energy for the coming year,” says Tom Dumoulin in an interview with Cyclingnews.
“In the almost 10 years I have focused on winning races and getting better each day. After 10 years I slowly began to feel how demanding it was, and that maybe I could use a little break.”
In the course of the year ended it also with that he left the Team Sunweb after many years on the team. It tells the 29-year-old dutchman also candidly about in the interview.
“for a long time I felt not happy at the team, and I was not satisfied with the way things was going on with me,” says Tom Dumoulin, who had to come up with a great concession on the team.
“eventually I had To throw the bomb, because I saw no future on the team. I had to talk with Iwan Spekenbrink (manager of Team Sunweb, red.) face-to-face, and the steps I had to take. It was hard to find a solution, but we did eventually.”
the Destination ended up to be Jumbo-Visma, an already star-studded team with riders like Primoz Roglic, Steven Kruijswijk and Wout van Aert.
Although Dumoulin has good memories from Sunweb, he quickly dropped to the new team.
“I drove on the team at the Continental level, as it was still called Rabobank, so I know many of stabsmedlemmerne, trainer and riders. It is really great to be here,” he says.
Tom Dumoulin has signed a contract with Jumbo-Visma to and including the year 2022.
