Tom Dumoulin on Jonas Vingegaard: 'I never saw him as a Tour winner'

“I could say yes, but to be honest, no,” Dumoulin admits to AS when asked if he saw Vingegaard’s potential to win the Tour de France. “He was always a great rider, but the leap he made was incredible. I admire his strength and dedication. He changed his mindset to become a leader and one of the best in the world.”

Now 34, Dumoulin reflects on the sport he left behind in 2022 after a decade that brought him a Giro victory, a world title and podiums in the biggest races. “I could never have dreamed of a career like the one I had,” he says. “As a kid I didn’t even dream of being a cyclist.”

When asked how cycling has evolved since his retirement, Dumoulin doesn’t hesitate. “It’s very different,” he says. “I’m happy not to be a cyclist today,” he adds with a laugh. “I have a lot of respect for those who are. It’s all very scientific now, and tough. It already was back then, of course, but today it’s amazing how good riders have become.”

Retirement suits him. “I’m enjoying it a lot,” he says. “I’m happy and proud of my career, even of the difficult years near the end, because they also shaped me as a person.” These days he runs more than he rides. In October he completed the Amsterdam Marathon in 2:29:21. “I love it. My dream now is to run New York. But I don’t want to be a professional again.”

When the topic turns to today’s dominance of Tadej Pogacar, Dumoulin’s admiration comes with a dose of honesty. “What Pogacar does is incredible and sometimes a bit boring. It’s amazing to witness what might be the best rider ever, but when he attacks with 75km to go, you just say, ‘OK, that’s it.’ The race is over. It’s admirable, but I’d like to see more suspense until the finish.”

Dumoulin still follows the peloton and sees hope in new talents. “I have high hopes for Juan Ayuso. He’s very talented and still has things to learn to reach Pogacar and Vingegaard’s level, but his move from UAE to Lidl–Trek is very interesting.”

Ayuso’s decision to leave UAE has the approval of Dumoulin: “He’s ambitious, he doesn’t want to be a domestique, he wants to be a leader. I think the move is good for him and for the team. I fully support it.”

He also reflects on his own era and its rivalries. “In terms of mentality, I’d say Nibali [was my biggest rival], but Froome was my main rival in the Grand Tours. I was a big fan of Contador, though by the time I was fighting for GC, his career was ending. I would have loved to race him at his peak.”

There’s still humor in his recollections, like when he talks about his famous Giro nature break. “Of course it’s in the book. That moment made my Giro victory even more famous. Everything is told in detail.”