Tom Dumoulin: 'Froome won't sway my Giro or Tour decision'
The 2017 Giro champion says he won't be influenced by Chris Froome's choice to race the Italian Grand Tour in 2018


Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) says his decision between the 2018 Giro d'Italia and Tour de France will not be changed by Chris Froome's Giro plans.
The 27-year-old from Maastricht, who became the first Dutchman to win the Giro in May this year, has already decided. He will compete in either the Giro or the Tour, but not both in 2018.
>>> Vincenzo Nibali: ‘This 2018 Giro d’Italia route suits Chris Froome’
"I know already but I'm not going to tell you. Sunweb has its team presentation on January 5 and we will announce our programmes then," Dumoulin said.
He stood well-dressed for the cold outside the RAI television studios where organiser RCS Sport presented the 2018 Giro route on Wednesday evening.
"I go wherever I think I have the best chance of winning," he responded when asked if Froome's decision would affect his.
"I don't necessary feel that with Froome doing the Giro that my chance in the Tour is higher. It's not necessarily the right moment for me to go on to the Tour after winning the Giro.
"I loved the Giro last year and I'm going to love if I do it again next year. I'm not going to say now that the Tour is the one for me next year."
The feeling is that the Tour is the one for Dumoulin in 2018. One close source told Cycling Weekly that he will not return to the Giro even if it was reported two days ago in the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport that he would race.
Dumoulin's progression naturally points towards competing for the Tour overall. He surprised everyone, including himself, when he won mountain stages and took the early lead in the Vuelta a España in 2015. Only Fabio Aru (Astana) could eventually rip the lead from his hands on the final mountain day.
In 2016, he gave himself time to develop in the Grand Tours. He focused on stages, winning the Chianti time trial in the Giro, and a time trial and summit finish in the Tour. In 2017, he aimed for the overall classification in a three-week race and won the Giro.
"It's hard to say which suits me the best. They're both very challenging and very nice. I like both courses. They both have a little bit of everything but they're not perfect. The Giro is not perfect for me because it's lacking time trial kilometres, it's the same for the Tour," Dumoulin said.
"A perfect course would perhaps mean a less exciting race for the fans and that's not what the organisation wants. They made a nice course so that we can have a very challenging race."
The Giro includes two time trial stage, a 9.7-kilometre time trial in Jerusalem and a 34.5-kilometre time trial in the third week. The Tour organiser plans a 35-kilometre team time trial on day three and a 31-kilometre individual time trial on the penultimate day.
Froome will attempt to make history, to be the third rider to win three consecutive Grand Tours and to try for the Giro/Tour double.
"Will he be worn down in the Tour? I think he showed an even better in the Vuelta this summer than in the Tour, so you never know with him. But I don't look to other riders for making a decision about any kind of race," Dumoulin continued.
"It's challenging but he had some big challenges in the past and he showed that he's the best GC cyclist at the moment. If anyone can do it, I think it's him. Good luck to him."
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.
-
-
Dylan Groenewegen claims victory in bunch sprint on Tour de France stage three
The Dutchman beat Wout van Aert with a bike throw on the line in Sønderborg.
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
The Giro Donne starts on Monday for German climber Koppenburg
The Cofidis rider is looking to banish nerves after returning from a serious crash at last year’s race
By Owen Rogers • 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
-
'I'm trying to get back to my old self again' — Chris Froome achieves his best result since 2019 horror crash
Chris Froome finished 11th at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on Tuesday, his best result for almost three years
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome set for 2022 race debut in Italy
The four-time Tour de France winner will return to racing at the Coppi e Bartali next week
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Chris Froome claims 'racing has become more dangerous' due to 'abundance of data'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider suggests cycling performance has drastically improved since he became a professional, but not necessarily for the best
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome says time trials should be raced on road bikes to improve safety
The four-time Tour de France champion gives his thoughts in light of Egan Bernal's recent training crash
By Jonny Long • 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