Tom Dumoulin forced to rest for a week after abandoning Giro d’Italia

The Dutch favourite pulled out of the race due to a knee injury

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Tom Dumoulin will be forced to rest for at least a week after a crash caused him to abandon the Giro d’Italia.

Sunweb leader Dumoulin pulled out of the race after suffering a gash to his knee on stage four.

The Dutchman lined up the following day, but stepped off the bike just 1.5km into stage five.

Dumoulin underwent an MRI scan on Thursday (May 17) which revealed no further damage, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS, but the 28-year-old will have to spend at least a week off the bike.

In a Twitter on Friday morning (May 17), Dumoulin said: “Back home, feet up.

“Not much luck coming our way this year.”

>>> Fernando Gaviria abandons Giro d’Italia 2019

Dumoulin, Giro d’Italia winner in 2017, had made the Italian Grand Tour his main target but also planned to ride the Tour de France as well for the second year running.

See more

He is now expected to focus his attention solely on the Tour in July, after finishing second in 2018.

Sunweb’s misfortune continued on stage six as their rider Robert Power abandoned on stage six after being caught in an early crash that also brought down race leader Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).

Power overstretched his gluteal muscle and was unable to push the pedals.

>>> ‘I’m feeling a bit down but I hope I’ll come around’: James Knox battling through injury at Giro d’Italia on Grand Tour debut

There was a silver lining for the German team at the conclusion of stage six however, as 23-year-old GC prospect Sam Oomen jumped to 10th overall after finishing in the breakaway on stage six.

Dutchman Oomen was also caught in the same crash that took Power out of the race, but came back to join the break and finish 11th on the stage.

He said: “I wanted to go for the stage victory but a lot went wrong in the finale.

“The guys in in the break were watching me but also marking each other out too. The climb itself wasn’t difficult enough for me to make the difference on, although I could set a strong pace I was missing the little bit of explosiveness that I needed.

“It’s a shame the stage ended like that but it gives me and the team confidence to try again later in the race.”

Thank you for reading 20 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

Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.