Tom Dumoulin has fully recovered from the knee injury that scuppered his 2019 season, according to his Jumbo-Visma team, who hope the Dutch rider will bring them more Grand Tour success in 2020.
His new sports director Merijn Zeeman told De Limburger that Dumoulin is now able to train intensively, and Jumbo-Visma hope the greater depth Dumoulin will bring to their squad will help them follow up Primož Roglič's Vuelta a España win in 2019. "His trainer Mathieu Heijboer and I, as a coach, work very intensively with him and we no longer see any limitations," said Zeeman.
>>> Giro d’Italia organiser asks Total Direct Energie to decline invite
With other riders currently enjoying an off-season break, the professional peloton will all have work to do to return to their top form ahead of 2020, which they hope Dumoulin will also be able to achieve, and say they will know for sure what their rider is capable of come January.
"It is now the beginning of December and no rider is yet where he needs to be," added Zeeman. "We will know more in January. But he is fully recovered: we now work with him at the same intensity as the others. In any case, I am very optimistic."
Dumoulin abandoned the 2019 Giro d'Italia following a crash before returning to racing at the Critérium du Dauphiné and climbing off with only one day to go.
That was just the start of the Dutchman's problems, who then failed to recover in time for the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España, having needed extra surgery to remove gravel from his knee that hadn't been spotted during previous medical examinations.
After the frustration of a missed season during his prime years, the 29-year-old left Sunweb mid-season to sign for Jumbo-Visma.
He recently returned to racing, albeit tentatively so, as he took part in a mountain bike beach race.
On Sunday (December 1) he lined up at the start of MTB Beach Race in Scheveningen in the Netherlands, a 54.9km race along the North Sea coast.
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
-
-
Jumbo-Visma bounce back from Etna disappointment on the road to Potenza at Giro d'Italia
Tom Dumoulin and Koen Bouwman deliver Dutch victory on stage seven
-
Orbea Orca Aero M120iLTD road bike review
An aero road bike so optimized it’s one step away from being an outright time trial bike, is it right for you?
-
'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
-
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
-
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
-
Tom Dumoulin to Team BikeExchange for 2022?
L'Equipe reports Giant bikes could be instrumental in taking Dutch star from Jumbo-Visma
-
Tom Dumoulin still plans to continue cycling career next year
The Dutch star was knocked from his bike by a driver, which spoiled his World Championship ambitions
-
'It was a difficult road to get here': Tom Dumoulin marks return to cycling with Olympics silver
'He took a deep dive and chose Tokyo as a trigger to push that career forward'
-
Tom Dumoulin: When I saw Van Aert win on Ventoux I started to get the itch for the Tour de France
The Dutch star is making his comeback after taking a break from racing earlier this year
-
'I'm comfortable in my own skin again': Tom Dumoulin takes 'beautiful' victory in Dutch national time trial
The former time trial world champion won by over 20 seconds on the next man Sebastien Langeveld
