Well he often says he wants to be better in one-day races, so if I were him I would take this opportunity and go for Lombardia and the other fall classics. I think the Vuelta after the Tour will be a bit much and not necessary.
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Vuelta and fall classics aren't really mutually exclusive, and also next year will have a really good Worlds route for Dumoulin, so it makes more sense to focus on those races then.Bardamu said:Well he often says he wants to be better in one-day races, so if I were him I would take this opportunity and go for Lombardia and the other fall classics. I think the Vuelta after the Tour will be a bit much and not necessary.
Red Rick said:Vuelta and fall classics aren't really mutually exclusive, and also next year will have a really good Worlds route for Dumoulin, so it makes more sense to focus on those races then.Bardamu said:Well he often says he wants to be better in one-day races, so if I were him I would take this opportunity and go for Lombardia and the other fall classics. I think the Vuelta after the Tour will be a bit much and not necessary.
I like to think Dumoulin has unfinished business with the Vuelta, and the route of the Vuelta this year may just be the best Vuelta route he'll ever get for him.
Dekker_Tifosi said:I expect nothing from his Dauphine as he didn't even do intense training since falling out of the Giro. But I am curious if he will test himself in any of the stages.
edit: just read his knee is still swelling up after each training. They didn't find anything on a new mri scan but still I wonder if it's smart to even race him in that state
movingtarget said:Dekker_Tifosi said:I expect nothing from his Dauphine as he didn't even do intense training since falling out of the Giro. But I am curious if he will test himself in any of the stages.
edit: just read his knee is still swelling up after each training. They didn't find anything on a new mri scan but still I wonder if it's smart to even race him in that state
i guess he will know fairly early in the race and if he has to pull out, then there will be no Tour for him either. Might be more sensible to be right for the Vuelta.
VayaVayaVaya said:So he lost 8:50 today. Got in some good hard training efforts while controlling his effort in the end, it appears. Glad he’s satisfied. Anyone think he can round into form to fight for victory in July?
Ofc he can if his knee is right and he is able to train properly. There's some hard stage in the beginning of the Tour, but only the MTF at La Planche will really create gaps (apart from the TTT obviously). Then you have to reach stage 13 at the 19th of July before the ITT and then Tourmalet and Prat d' Albis MTF at 20th and 21th of July. Its definitely possible.VayaVayaVaya said:So he lost 8:50 today. Got in some good hard training efforts while controlling his effort in the end, it appears. Glad he’s satisfied. Anyone think he can round into form to fight for victory in July?
The metal shard inside the inflamed knee is still a distraction and one that is causing Dumoulin vital energy - whether through added treatment or the daily questions he is facing. Surgery to remove the foreign body is an issue but one that will only be decided upon once the Dauphine concludes on Sunday.
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There's still a big bump and it's still irritating me. It has been for the last two weeks, and it will stay like that if I race every day. As long as it's not getting worse I should be fine. It's a bit of pain but I can get through it."
movingtarget said:Yeah I think the longer view is better with injuries.Vuelta looks like a reasonable target and a few other late season races if inclined.