Tom Dumoulin plans to target Tour de France in 2019

The Dutchman split his focus across the Giro, Tour and World Championships this season

Tom Dumoulin hopes to target the Giro d'Italia this season Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Tom Dumoulin hopes to focus on the Tour de France in 2019 after splitting his attention this season.

The Dutchman finished second in both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France before focusing on the World Championships.

Dumoulin says he will take a different approach next year, as he hopes to race in the Classics before focusing on the Tour.

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The 27-year-old told Dutch broadcaster NOS (opens in new tab): "I would like to go to the Tour and the team would like me to go to the Tour,

“I do not want to slam the doors yet, I always find it dangerous to say, if the course is not even known.”

Team-mates Wilco Kelderman and Sam Oomen are expected to ride for Dumoulin at the tour, along with new signing from BMC Nicolas Roche.

Michael Matthews and Søren Kragh Andersen from Sunweb are also expected to ride the Tour.

Dumoulin had a remarkably consistent 2018 season finishing second in both the Giro and the Tour, behind Team Sky riders Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas in each.

After finishing the Tour, Dumoulin then looked to the World Championships where he finished second in the time trial and fourth in the road race.

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In the early season, Dumoulin rode Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège before his run of Grand Tours.

But next season, Dumoulin could focus more on the one-day races for the climbers, including Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands.

Dumoulin said: “My spring has not really turned out to be my best time in the past, but I think it's great to do so, if I go to the Tour with a focus, peak in April and then the Amstel is back in."

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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.