Bob Jungels: I'm similar to Wiggins and Dumoulin, but I need time to develop
The Luxembourg champion is only 24, but looks set to try his hand at Grand Tours in the same style as Bradley Wiggins and Tom Dumoulin


Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors), winner of the Giro d'Italia's stage 15 into Bergamo on Sunday, recognises he is developing similarly to Bradley Wiggins and Tom Dumoulin, but says he needs time before racing for a Grand Tour overall victory.
The 24-year-old from Luxembourg sits eighth overall ahead of the Giro's high-mountain stages behind leader Dumoulin and holds the white jersey by 2-25 minutes over Adam Yates (Orica-Scott).
"They [Wiggins and Dumoulin] are for sure the type of riders I'm looking up to, for sure, they have the same style of racing like me, or me like them, it's just at the moment they are faster up hill," Jungels said.
Jungels just won the stage to Bergamo, similar to Il Lombardia, and arrived to the pressroom with the blue, white and red national champion's jersey on his back.
"I'm just tying to make it through this last week now, to learn. It's hard to say what changes I need to make, you can change your body, but you can't change your nature."
Jungels already placed sixth in the Giro last year, wearing the pink jersey and winning the white jersey of young rider.
"I've been in the pink already, a couple of days in the white jerseys," he added. "I don't think I need to change much."
He placed third in the time trial through the Sagrantino vineyards behind winner Dumoulin and Geraint Thomas (Sky) last week.
His issue, similar to Wiggins and now Dumoulin, could be his staying power in the mountains. Those riders put much effort into weight loss and time at altitude camps to improve. Jungels lost 3-30 and 1-22 minutes in the first two summit finishes in the Giro.
The final week, after Monday's rest day, heads over the high Alpine passes. However, in his favour, as with Dumoulin's, the race ends with a 29.3-kilometre time trial.
"It's going to be a hard final week, like everyone knows, the big climbs are all in the last week this year. It's going to be interesting. I think that out of the second row I can play a good role as well," Jungels said.
"How am I different than Dumoulin? That's a good question. I think that he's going faster uphill, fast in the time trials. I don't really know how to answer. He's just stronger at the moment."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
David Millar: Why Mark Cavendish deserves to be at the Tour de France
Cav has bridged generations in a way no one else could, he shows what's possible
By David Millar • Published
-
Young and talented: Meet the seven Americans racing Le Tour
Young and talented: Meet the seven American bike racers ringing Le Tour de France in 2022.
By Marshall Opel • Published
-
'Dismiss Geraint Thomas at your peril' — Bradley Wiggins sees Welshman as Tour de France 'underdog'
Ineos Grenadiers rider will head to Tour off the back of Tour de Suisse win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: It would be a 'real shame' if Mark Cavendish wasn't at the Tour de France
Cavendish's former teammate and Madison partner thinks it would be "crazy" not to pick him
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Cycling required my blood, sweat and tears at times, but mostly it was beautiful' — Tom Dumoulin to retire at end of 2022 season
Tom Dumoulin has announced that he will retire this year, and take a take "new and unknown path" from next year
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
How would Bradley Wiggins beat Tadej Pogačar? 'Buy him, and send him to the Giro'
Former Tour de France winner admits he would have struggled against a talent like Pogačar
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I’ve struggled with having a whole crew revolve around me in the past': Tom Dumoulin happy to share Jumbo-Visma's Giro d'Italia leadership
The Dutchman makes his return to the race he won in 2017
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Tom Dumoulin confirms he will ride for the overall at a Grand Tour in 2022
The former time trial world champion hasn't had a serious go at a Grand Tour since the 2018 Tour de France
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Tom Dumoulin doesn't rule out Grand Tour return in 2022
Dutchman will decide on his season at the Jumbo-Visma training camp in mid-December
By Ryan Dabbs • Published