Tom Dumoulin suffers 'stupid fall' on stage two of the Tour de France
The Dutchman is the latest Jumbo-Visma to come a cropper as they ready for an assault on the yellow jersey
Tom Dumoulin suffered what he described as a "stupid fall" on stage two of the Tour de France.
The Dutchman is the latest Jumbo-Visma rider to have a hiccup as they prepare to mount a challenge for the general classification, with Primož Roglič having arrived in Nice bandaged up from his fall at the Critérium du Dauphiné and George Bennett going down hard on stage one of the Tour.
"It was a bit of a stupid fall," Dumoulin said. "I don't know exactly what happened. I looked to the left and at that moment Michał Kwiatkowski came by and before I knew it I was on the ground.
"Fortunately I have no pain, just bumped my knee a little. I think that's okay otherwise. It will work out. Fortunately, I was able to return soon."
>>> Julian Alaphilippe faces battle between heart and head on mounting another fight for yellow
Wout van Aert helped pace Dumoulin back up to the front group, and he arrived at the finish having lost no time, another day survived for the Dutch WorldTour team.
"Tom's fall was a downside. As a result, we lost Wout who helped Tom get going again. I don't think we could have competed for the win otherwise because there was no one left to ride behind those three," said sports director Frans Maassen. "But the plan was to finish with Primož and Tom in the first group and we succeeded. We were in control all day and didn't do anything too crazy. So in that respect the stage went well.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"The most important thing is that our riders are very strong and that we are in good shape. And we have faith in our plan. We took the initiative today in the places we wanted to get through safely. So that's okay. It is also better to drive from the front than to chase the facts."
The first real test of the GC contenders will come on stage four, with a summit finish on the category one Orcières-Merlette, where we may see the first showdown between Jumbo-Visma and Ineos.
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
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Celebrating the career of Tom Dumoulin: our three favourite moments
The former Giro d’Italia winner announced his immediate retirement earlier this week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Dumoulin ends career with immediate effect
Dutch former Giro d’Italia winner brings forward retirement from professional cycling
By Tom Thewlis 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’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
-
Tom Dumoulin to Team BikeExchange for 2022?
L'Equipe reports Giant bikes could be instrumental in taking Dutch star from Jumbo-Visma
By Richard Windsor Last updated